ROLE MODEL - “hello!”

SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 8

Pairs Well With…Declan McKenna, Omar Apollo, Still Woozy

ROLE MODEL sings sad, internalized songs, but produces them within comfortable, chillwave grooves on his sophomore EP oh, how perfect, overall sharing a unique and surprisingly bright sound. Adding threads of chamber rock orchestration over bouncy, low-key synth lines gives ROLE MODEL’s music unexpected texture for his songwriting. That dichotomy plays throughout all of oh, how perfect, moving from tender emo folk turned dance pop (“that’s just how it goes”) to an airy electronic R&B duet (“notice me”) with a consistent, regretful mood throughout. ROLE MODEL’s vocals teeter between a full-on croon and understated, conversational tones, again comfortable in the pocket his music smoothy creates. There’s even some hip hop in the melodies of “say it first” and “gucci chair”, modernized forms that connect as one cohesive sound rather than outrightly fusing genres together. Coming to SXSW from Cape Elizabeth, Maine, ROLE MODEL has been prolifically releasing tracks since debuting, so lookout for new tracks to accompany his already strong early catalog. (Kevin McStravick)