Role Model releases new album with Dakota Johnson

Tucker Pillsbury, the indie-pop artist known as Role Model, has just dropped his new album *Chuck Timely and the Hourglass*, marking a deliberate shift away from his usual hyperpop sound toward heartland rock and Americana. The 11-track record, out today, blends twangy guitars, raw vocals, and introspective lyrics, a stark contrast to his 2023 breakout hit "Hillside," which went viral for its sugary pop melody. Pillsbury calls it his most personal project yet, calling it “a record about growing up, slowing down, and letting go.”

This pivot comes after years of building a cult following in the hyperpop and emo rap scenes, where his lo-fi production and sharp, self-deprecating lyrics won fans like Charli XCX and 100 gecs. But after touring with Lorde and writing songs with Skrillex, Pillsbury felt creatively stifled by the pressure to chase mainstream success. “I started to realize I was making music for algorithms, not for myself,” he tells *Rolling Stone*. The new album’s raw, band-driven sound reflects that awakening—a return to the organic rock he grew up on, inspired by Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty.

Role Model isn’t working alone. He co-wrote and produced *Chuck Timely and the Hourglass* with longtime collaborator and multi-instrumentalist Chuck Timely, a Nashville-based session musician who helped shape the album’s warm, analog feel. Pillsbury also recruited Dakota Johnson for a surprise guest vocal on the track “Midnight Ride,” a duet that channels late-night radio nostalgia. The chemistry between the two was electric, leading rumors that Johnson might join Pillsbury on an upcoming tour—though nothing’s confirmed yet.

Pillsbury isn’t just changing his sound—he’s considering changing his name too. While he still performs as Role Model, he hints that future projects might drop the moniker entirely, signaling a full reinvention. “This album feels like the end of one chapter and the start of another,” he says. With streaming fatigue and an oversaturated pop landscape, Pillsbury’s gamble on authenticity could resonate far beyond his usual niche. If *Chuck Timely and the Hourglass* finds an audience, it might just redefine what it means to be a modern rock artist—or prove that heartland rock still has a pulse.