Role Model Puts 'the Kids onto Light Country' With His ‘Kansas Anymore’ Album

Tucker Pillsbury, better known as Role Model, has never been one to play it safe. With the release of Kansas Anymore: The Longest Goodbye (Deluxe) (coincidentally on Valentine's Day this year), he not only embraced an evolving sound—one with an unexpected twang—but he also found himself stepping into a new level of success.

Despite his success, music was never Plan A for Pillsbury, let alone Plan B. He attended school without any serious plans of becoming an artist until he saw others around him making it and thought maybe he could do that, too. Giving himself a deadline to break into the industry, he wrote, recorded, and independently released his debut EP in 2017, titled Arizona in the Summer. When the late Mac Miller got his hands on it, Pillsbury had a moment of realization—this wasn’t just a shot in the dark. It was really happening.

Over the next few years, the Maine-born creative built a name for himself with a steady stream of EPs, singles, and his 2022 debut studio album, Rx. His sound remained distinct—melodic and introspective, often with rap-sung verses reminiscent of Miller. But with Kansas Anymore, which released July 2024, Pillsbury took a hard left turn, embracing a sound once unfamiliar to him: country. The shift toward an Americana country sound in Kansas Anymore was already evident, but in the deluxe album that dropped this February, Pillsbury fully leans even heavier into it.  

Now, the 27-year-old has a headlining tour approaching and an ever-growing fanbase, thanks to his wit and charming online presence. Role Model is happily stepping into the spotlight, perhaps with a cowboy hat on. Yet, despite the momentum, he approaches it all ego-free, letting instinct guide his artistry.

"We're putting the kids onto some light country."

Role Model Talks Kansas Anymore and the Deluxe Version

"I think Kansas Anymore, the actual album, had that in it [a country-inspired sound]. But then when we were doing the deluxe, I was like, 'I feel like this is my chance to just kind of turn up the twang a little bit and live my dream,'" he tells L'OFFICIEL with a laugh. "I was like, fuck it. It’s a deluxe. Let me just play around a little bit...we’re putting the kids onto some light country."

Although Miller’s music style is far from what we hear on Kansas Anymore, the late artist remains a lasting influence on Pillsbury’s creative decisions, serving as a guiding presence in moments of uncertainty. "I feel like there’s a few people in the world where, when I’m unsure of something—I will always ask myself if those people would think this is corny or like, would they have done this? How would they have done this?” Pillsbury says.

Among the standout tracks from the deluxe album are "Sally, When the Wine Runs Out," a fun upbeat track destined for single status that has already gained traction on TikTok, and his final song on the deluxe, "The Longest Goodbye," which showcases a more vulnerable side of Pillsbury with a bittersweet close to Kansas Anymore. In a Toy Story "You've Got a Friend in Me"-esque manner, "The Longest Goodbye" was recorded in two takes on his living room floor. Its most poignant lyrics go, "And I don't think I love you anymore/But I don't think I'll ever be so sure."

Role Model Talks Tour and Missing Home

Pillsbury just wrapped the European leg of his headlining tour and is set to kick off the US run on February 24, starting in Arizona. Come July, he’ll open for Gracie Abrams on her "Secret of Us Deluxe Tour," marking their second time touring together—an experience that’s merged their fan bases into one big family.

"I didn’t realize just how much crossover there was in our music until we were on tour together,” he says. “It was very cool. It really does feel like our little wholesome 'Sweat Tour.'” Pillsbury jokes that while Charli XCX and Troye Sivan brought a more raunchy energy to their tour, he and Abrams are for the loafer-wearing crowd.

While life on the road is thrilling for Pillsbury, homesickness remains a challenge, he reveals. The singer-songwriter, who grew up in the town of Cape Elizabeth in Maine, has always struggled with being away from home. That theme is, after all, central to Kansas Anymore and its reflections on heartbreak. Though touring keeps him busy, the absence of familiarity and routine still weighs on him.

"I think I just miss routine when I’m on tour. I like my mornings, and you don’t really get those," he says. But at least, tour will be on the East Coast, which "gives me life. I’ll see my family and friends, so it’s not that bad."

Role Model on Dodging the Ego and Future Plans

Beyond the success of his latest album, Role Model finds himself in a unique position, partially crediting TikTok—and his alter ego, "SaintLaurentCowboy"—for helping boost his reach. Through this account, Pillsbury connects with fans in a lighthearted way, often poking fun at himself or turning promotional moments into skits. It’s a platform where he doesn’t take things too seriously, aiming to keep his online presence just as authentic as his music. Pillsbury gladly entertains interacting with fans online.

Like his social media presence, Pillsbury focuses on approaching life with little ego, prioritizing enjoyment in his career and cherishing the people around him. He jokes that Sally did, in fact, disappear when the wine ran out, but rejection doesn’t faze him because, at the end of the day, he’s surrounded by a strong support system that gets him through his career.

"Arizona in the Summer was my baby. I think I may make people mad when I say this, but to me, it's really just Arizona in the Summer and Kansas Anymore. As for everything in between, I'm just like, 'let's forget it for now,'" Pillsbury says, emphasizing he feels he owes everything to his first EP and those who supported it.

With upcoming shows, including a milestone in performing two sold-out nights at Madison Square Garden with Abrams on July 28 and 29, Pillsbury's momentum since his 2017 debut is undeniable. As Pillsbury continues to evolve his sound and embrace his creative instincts, one thing is clear—Role Model is stepping into new, uncharted territory, and his fans are more than ready to follow his lead.