Role Model (Tucker Pillsbury) discusses his new album Chuck Timely & The Hourglass, blending influences from Fleetwood Mac, Stephen Bishop, John Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty while deliberately avoiding genre categorization.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Pillsbury explained his resistance to being labeled a pop star despite making pop music. “I do say that I make pop music,” he said, “but I just don’t want to be in that race, ’cause I’m not trying to be a pop star.” He described the sonic landscape of the album as “lake pop” or “pontoon pop music,” drawing on early 2000s country aesthetics while applying different songwriting approaches.
The album explores themes of identity crisis, heartbreak and spiritual malaise. Pillsbury noted that he wrote the record in real time during personal upheaval, later entering therapy after completing it. Key tracks include “Joy,” which he described as burying darker themes about losing childhood joy beneath an upbeat arrangement, and “Song Is All You Get,” which reflects on fleeting moments and gratitude for brief experiences.
Pillsbury revealed an unexpected Madonna influence on the album. Working with producer Mason Stoops, he sought to capture Madonna’s danceability and groove without synthesizers, instead using piano, guitar and organic instrumentation to recreate synth-driven arrangements. “Love I You” features a one-take vocal cameo from actress Dakota Johnson, whom Pillsbury is dating. He also recently acted in the film Good Sex opposite Natalie Portman and Mark Ruffalo, directed by Lena Dunham.
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Source: Rolling Stone
