Role Model Unveils New Album, Shifts Away From Pop-Star Persona

Tucker Pillsbury, known professionally as Role Model, has issued his latest record, *Chuck Timely & The Hourglass*. The album expands his sound toward heartland rock, drawing on influences such as Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp while retaining a pop foundation.

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He recently ended that routine, noting that fan reaction was minimal aside from a few disappointed listeners. He linked the decision to his confidence in the new album, saying he would have continued the bit had he not believed in the record’s direction.

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The two-year span leading up to the album followed Pillsbury’s 2023 split from Emma Chamberlain. He describes the songs as reflecting a period of singledom and self-questioning, touching on uncertainty about entering new relationships and the absence of therapeutic guidance.

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Pillsbury’s girlfriend, actress Dakota Johnson, appears on the track “Love I You” in a spoken-word bridge. Initially hesitant to involve her, he eventually agreed after producer Mason Stoops suggested her participation. Pillsbury acknowledges that her cameo will spark online discussion but emphasizes that her voice “made the song really special.”

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Pillsbury repeatedly stresses that he does not aspire to be a pop star, despite loving pop music. He cites discomfort with the trappings of fame—flashy outfits and background dancers—and prefers to let his artistic choices speak for themselves. He also hints at possibly reverting to his birth name, noting that the moniker “Role Model” draws frequent mockery online.

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In the Rolling Stone Studio interview, Pillsbury explained that his shift toward heartland rock is “a fun challenge” that lets him blend beloved classic artists with contemporary pop. He said his reluctance to chase pop stardom stems from a desire to avoid the “race” for the current “pop boy” title, arguing that his music and collaborations already signal his stance. Regarding his upcoming acting role opposite Natalie Portman in Lena Dunham’s *Good Sex*, he described the experience as “nerve-wracking” and admitted to being starstruck during a scene with Portman.

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• “If someone plays, like, a Flo Rida song or, like, a Pitbull song, it makes me sad,” — Tucker Pillsbury — Tucker Pillsbury

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