Role Model | Austin City Limits

Photographed by Lauren Castro

The energy at Role Model’s set on Saturday at Austin City Limits music festival was one fueled by the massive crowd that gathered around the stage. The 25-year-old, referring to the city as ‘Austin Butler,’ has an undeniable draw as he candidly sings about mental health and the deepest parts of his personal life. 

Role Model, real name Tucker Pillsbury, fought the typical Texas heat and checked in on the crowd, often targeting those “who were dragged to the show”: boyfriends, girlfriends, fathers, friends. “I promise you I’ll win you over by the end of the set,” he spoke to the crowd. And if you were to ask me, he accomplished his goal tenfold. 

Flaunt chatted with Role Model after his set and discussed his European leg of the tour, his impeccable songwriting chops, and ChristianTok.

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How are you so comfortable on stage?

It's just the fans… they help me be myself. I would not be shaking my ass on stage if people were just like, hands in pockets. Obviously, I would just stand still and be an insecure little fuck, but when they cheer and let me be myself….And then I see them coming out of their shells. It's the most beautiful thing ever. 

Do you hype yourself up before you go out? 

I don't, they do it. It's all them. People would be so disappointed at what the reality is of pre-show and post-show. It’s like dead silence. We're not talking to each other. We're just kind of sitting, waiting. 

You just finished the European leg of the RX tour…how did that go?

It was insane. It kind of blew my mind. Very surreal. The first stop was some festival called Sziget which is in Budapest, which I could not tell you where that is. I have no idea. 

So I went in thinking like, ‘what a shitty way to start, there’s gonna be like five people, maybe, like who the fuck knows me in Budapest?’ And it was one of the biggest crowds. It was the best start to the tour and again, that gives you the confidence to go into every show. It was incredible… the fact that anyone showed up just blows my mind.

I’ve always wondered how that worked…going to another country where English isn’t the only language spoken. Are the fans singing in English?

Yeah, I had talked to Ashe [about this] before. She was kind of telling me about her experience and she was like ‘we are the only country that doesn’t put in an effort to learn another fucking language.’ Every show, they know every word and they sing and they have perfect English when they're talking to you and it just kind of makes you feel like an asshole. We could not do that. I took like 12 years of French and didn’t use any of it. 

Your newest album, RX, is very personal. How are you able to be so vulnerable?

I would hope that no one tries to be vulnerable… I guess that in songwriting, [it’s easier to] not filter yourself in any way. And that's how I started music. I got started making music in a closet by myself working with a producer who lived on the other side of the country. I didn't have guidance from the start, or someone being over my shoulder being like ‘hey, don't talk about sex and depression in the same song’ and it's like just a product of that.

You use a lot of religious euphemisms in your lyrics. Did you grow up religious?

I'm not religious at all. I hate the word. Whatever, I guess I’m an atheist. But like. I mean I say it in the song, too. I just think I talked about Jesus a little bit too much in that album. It's just like a fun thing to play around with. However, now people think that ‘if jesus saves, she’s my type’ is like a Christian pop song.

That kind of destroys me a little bit, but they…obviously don't know what it’s about.

You talk about sex a lot in your lyrics as well. Is it hard to talk about things like that? How is it now you have a significant other?

No, because I've been doing it from the start. It's always been very anonymous, and no one has ever known who a song was about and I loved it that way. Fucking incredible thing and I loved the mystery of it, and you can just say whatever. 

How has that changed? Do you feel about it differently now?

I feel the same way. I think it changes the way people listen to the music, which honestly bothers me a lot. That was kind of my biggest fear, which has come true. But we're working around it. I hope it doesn’t change the way people listen to my music. 

What about your parents? Are they weird about it?

We don’t talk about that. They talk to me about the songs that are PG enough to where they can be like ‘this is my favorite.’ They love the new ones. They love ‘cross your mind.’

Is it hard touring and being so active while having Type 1 diabetes? How do you manage that?

It’s really fucking hard. I have a doc who is specific to diabetes. She has patients that tour and everything. I go to her complaining a lot and she says it’s how it is for everyone. It’s hard to maintain the perfect pressure and be healthy, but like while you're off the road, it’s easier to take care of yourself. But it is a nightmare.It’s not something I like talking about with the fans because I don’t want them to feel like the show is a burden. It’s like my favorite thing in the world. 

Our Little Angel was a more heartbreak album while RX is lovey dovey. What direction do you see your next album going? Any new music coming soon?

Yes, a lot. A lot of music. There will continue to be new music made throughout the year but it's just more realistic I guess. Obviously, when you're falling in love, there's a honeymoon stage. That didn't go away. I’m super grateful and like, it's a beautiful relationship that I get to write about and talk about, but I'm not a perfect person. I think I make it very hard to love. It’s a little bit darker, I will just say that. It’s probably a little more relatable for all the TikTok girls.