American pop singer and songwriter who began to make waves in the music industry with the release of his 2017 EP Arizona In The Summer. 2019 marked his first performance at the Lollapalooza music festival. He has since released three EPs, one studio album, and a series of singles.
He intended on pursuing a career in film prior to becoming a musician. A skiing and skating accident drew Pillsbury into a depression, which stunted his desire to make music.
As a child, he was heavily inspired by Elvis Presley and would perform for his family while dressed as him. Throughout high school, he took an interest in film, and in 2016, he moved to Pittsburgh to major in film at Point Park University. During his freshman year, he broke his wrist due to a skiing accident at Sugarloaf Mountain and later broke his wrist again due to a skateboarding accident. While he was stuck in his dorm, two of his friends left music equipment in his dorm, prompting him to record several rap mixtapes while learning how to use Logic Pro. He soon dropped out of college after his grades started to fall.
ROLE MODEL began rapping in 2016 under the mononym Tucker, and released his debut mixtape, Since When. He soon changed his stage name to DILLIS, and self-released his debut album "Moth" in June 2016. That same month, he performed at a show at the Maine State Pier, and he later performed as an opener for Lil Debbie during her 2016 U.S. tour.
In early 2017, he changed his stage name to ROLE MODEL and switched from rapping to singing. He self-released his debut EP, ARIZONA IN THE SUMMER, in December 2017 after recording it in his closet, which earned him a following online. After hearing the EP, rapper Mac Miller invited ROLE MODEL to Los Angeles for the two to work together. He was signed to Interscope Records in 2018. A music video for his song "play the part" was released in November 2018. His single "minimal" was released in May 2019 along with a music video. He was featured on the song "Fucked Up, Kinda" from Julia Michaels's EP, Inner Monologue Part 2, released in June 2019.
He released the music video for his single, "hello!" in October 2019. In November 2019, he released his second EP, oh, how perfect, in November 2019 through Interscope Records and Polydor Records. His first headlining tour, the 'Far from Perfect' Tour, took place in late 2019.
In February 2020, he released an acoustic version of his song "notice me". He released his third EP, our little angel, in October 2020 through Polydor and Interscope Records. A music video for his song "blind" was released in October 2020. In July 2021, he released the single "forever&more", and in September 2021, he released the single "death wish".
On February 18, 2022, he released the single "if jesus saves, she's my type" alongside its music video. The same day, Role Model also announced the title, the tracklist, and the official release date of his debut album. In March 2022, he released the album's third single "neverletyougo" with a music video. His debut album, Rx, was released on April 8, 2022. The music video for "Rx", the title track, was released on April 9, 2022. He would soon embark on his 'TOURx' 2022 world tour.
On August 25, 2022, he released the single "cross your mind" alongside an official music video. He released another single "a little more time" on February 17, 2023, with a music video shot and directed by his girlfriend Emma Chamberlain.
ROLE MODEL took his name from Paul Rudd's character in the 2008 film "Role Models". He often plays acoustic guitar in his songs, and his music has been described as pop and bedroom pop. He has called Mac Miller an inspiration of his due to his influence on the city of Pittsburgh, and called meeting him "the most pivotal moment in his life". Critics have described his lyrics, which discuss topics such as sex, mental health, and relationships, as "relatable" and "confessional". Throughout his career, Pillsbury has been very open about mental health issues and his own depression.
He was signed to Benny Blanco's Mad Love Records label. He is close friends with fellow artist Omar Apollo. As of 2019, he is based in Hollywood. He is in a relationship with American social media influencer and model Emma Chamberlain.
minimal
Role Model Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Girls get by, act like they got it fine
We're so sad, all my friends and I
We just break the rules
Smoke cigs, break hearts, get high
There's too much going on
I wish the world would end
But it keeps going on
Think that we should keep it
Minimal, minimal, let's keep it
Minimal, minimal, no talking
Minimal, minimal, let's keep it
Minimal, minimal, let's-
And I know it makes you mad
To see me smile while you look back
But sometimes just being alone is better than getting along
All my friends got issues too
We act like we got shit to do
It tastes like whiskey kissing you
Don't say you miss me, I'll miss you too
I need Visine
Got too high, got hit by the high beam
Fuck VIP
I know nobody in the club's gonna like me
Just shut up and listen, it's nice when it's quiet
Let's fuck in the kitchen and we cause a riot
Next day we'll be silent
But maybe that's better, we just keep it
Minimal, minimal, let's keep it
Minimal, minimal, no talking
Minimal, minimal, let's keep it
Minimal, minimal, let's-
The lyrics of Role Model's "Minimal" reveal the struggles of young adults who are experiencing sadness and confusion. The song highlights the gender expectations and the societal pressure put on them. The first verse talks about the perception of society that boys should always be happy, while girls should have their emotions under control. They are expected to behave in a certain way and hide their true feelings. However, the chorus contrasts this expectation and suggests that life can be simplified to basic necessities, such as minimalism, to get through difficult times. The singer wishes for the world to end, indicating that life is overwhelming, but he acknowledges that there is no stopping it.
In the second verse, the singer speaks to someone who is angry because he seems happy, and he reveals that although he may appear content, he is also experiencing difficulties in life. He acknowledges the fact that all his friends are struggling with their problems, yet they pretend to have it all together. The reference to whiskey could be suggesting that they may be turning to alcohol for comfort. The reference to the high beam indicates that they are also taking drugs. In the last part of the verse, the singer talks about how sometimes being alone can be better than pretending to get along with someone. The last lines of the chorus emphasize the need for simplicity in life.
The song speaks to the youth about being comfortable with oneself and not conforming to society's expectations. It is about the need for simplicity in life and the importance of being real and authentic. It is a relatable song for the youth who are struggling with mental health issues, identity crises, and societal pressure.
Line by Line Meaning
Boys don't cry, they're happy all the time
Society expects boys to suppress their emotions and always be happy.
Girls get by, act like they got it fine
Society expects girls to pretend like everything is okay even if it's not.
We're so sad, all my friends and I
The singer and their friends are struggling with their emotions.
We just break the rules
They rebel against society's expectations and rules.
Smoke cigs, break hearts, get high
They engage in destructive behavior to cope with their emotions.
There's too much going on
They feel overwhelmed and unable to handle everything.
I wish the world would end
They feel hopeless and think that the world would be better off if it ended.
But it keeps going on
Despite their negative thoughts, the world keeps revolving.
Think that we should keep it
They believe that they should continue to live even if it's hard.
And I know it makes you mad
The artist is aware that their behavior may anger others.
To see me smile while you look back
They smile despite knowing that others disapprove of their behavior.
But sometimes just being alone is better than getting along
Being alone is preferable to compromising their values and going along with others.
All my friends got issues too
The singer's friends also struggle with their emotions.
We act like we got shit to do
They pretend to be busy to avoid confronting their issues.
It tastes like whiskey kissing you
They use alcohol to numb their emotions and feel close to someone else.
Don't say you miss me, I'll miss you too
They want to avoid emotional attachment to prevent further pain.
I need Visine
They have bloodshot eyes from smoking marijuana.
Got too high, got hit by the high beam
They got too intoxicated and it had a negative effect on them.
Fuck VIP
They reject the idea of being special or above others.
I know nobody in the club's gonna like me
They feel like an outcast and do not fit in with the club scene.
Just shut up and listen, it's nice when it's quiet
They appreciate silence and want others to stop talking.
Let's fuck in the kitchen and we cause a riot
They want to engage in risky behavior and disrupt the norm.
Next day we'll be silent
They will avoid discussing their actions the next day.
But maybe that's better, we just keep it
Not discussing their actions is preferable to facing the consequences or emotions that may arise.
Minimal, minimal, let's keep it
They desire a simple and minimal lifestyle.
Minimal, minimal, no talking
They prefer silence and minimal communication.
Minimal, minimal, let's-
They want to maintain the minimal lifestyle they desire.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Tucker Harrington Pillsbury
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind