Wine and Cheese: Role Model and Bon Iver
Role Model and Bon Iver may seem like an unlikely duo for distressed teens, yet both capture the same authentic inspirations, mellow self-discovery, and a nuanced understanding of modern relationships.
Written by Caroline McConnico
Illustrated by Audrey Buckley
It might be hard to understand the appeal of a Role Model and Bon Iver pairing without being a forlorn teenager. After all, what could glossy bedroom pop and sparse cabin folk possibly have in common? The Gen Z sad-pop heartthrob and millennial indie-folk pioneer seem to live in completely different galaxies, occupying separate planets in the indie pop universe.
In reality, the two artists are more alike than one may think. Both use stage names, write about melancholy intimacy, and have devoted whole albums to Emmas. Their work occupies the same emotional space for different pools of listeners, offering a sense of raw vulnerability wrapped in clever production. The two artists are postcards of their hometowns, giving fans a slice of where they’re from and who they love.
Role Model, also known as Tucker Pillsbury or saintlaurentcowboy, is a former rapper who blends soft pop and confessional lyrics to craft guitar-driven ballads. He burst into the mainstream after the release of his second album, Kansas Anymore, in July 2024. His music explores major themes of men’s mental health and loneliness, relationships, and other personal and relatable experiences.
Bon Iver, originally singer-songwriter Justin Vernon’s solo-project, is an American indie folk band with an evolving discography of experimental and genre-bending sounds. The group’s music is a cacophony of electronic, folk, alternative and R&B influences, creating something entirely singular. The mesmerizing soundscapes mixed with Vernon’s layered vocals provide listeners with a haunting feeling that is both elaborate and intimate.
Pillsbury’s music oozes New England energy, pulling inspiration from Noah Kahan and other northern artists. Originally from Cape Elizabeth, Maine, he makes homesickness chic and humorous in songs like “The Dinner,” with lyrics like: “I’m the child of my mother, New England-born and raised / Where the common sense is common as a nose job in LA.” Instead of running from his roots, he finds solace in remembering a time before the West Coast. His music is rich in coastal aesthetics, combining a folk-tinged upbringing with catchy pop sonics. The result is as fresh as the salty northeast shore, sailing his listeners through waves of homesickness.
For Bon Iver, Vernon’s sound exudes midwest winter. Even the project name is a play on the French for "good winter" (bon hiver). Originally from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Vernon uses lyrical themes of isolation and nature to embody the North Central lifestyle. Each song is a world-building hibernal full of snowy mountains, crisp breeze, and longing for a lover lost. The taste of apple cider and the feeling of slipping on a sweater are common pulls on the listeners’ heart strings. The warm melodies circle in cool flame and sweet somber bliss. The lyrics embody Vernon’s commitment to Eau Claire, with lines like "Cause every place I go I take another place with me / That was Wisconsin that was yesterday.” He even co-founded the Eaux Claires Music & Arts Festival, drawing other artists to help put his home on the map as a creative hub.
The two artists’ also use similar lyricism, features, and energy in their songs. For example, in Role Model’s “Some Protector,” Pillsbury belts a gut-wrenching bridge, spiraling into heartbreak: “Am I wrecking reputation / While you're making reservations? / Am I lying to my mother / That someday I'll find another?” This is a similar parallel to lines in Bon Iver’s “For Emma,” where Vernon pleads, “Go find another lover / To bring a-, to string along!” Both songs explore the challenge of overcoming heartbreak from someone who has long moved on.
The artists also have emotional songs with prominent female musicians. Role Model’s “So Far Gone” features Lizzy McAlpine’s agile harmonies and soul-crushing lyrics. The line “Look at what we uncovered / At least the both of us changed / But now I drink like my brother / Since the day we went our separate ways,” perfectly captures the pain of losing someone you love in a messy breakup. Bon Iver’s feature on Taylor Swift’s “Evermore” matches the distress with lines like “Can't not think of all the cost / And the things that will be lost / Oh, can we just get a pause?” which signals the compromising end of a tortured relationship.
The icing on the “Role-Iver” cake is the devotion to their ex–lovers, both coincidentally named Emma. Both artists dedicated entire albums to these women, turning their pain into abundance. Pillsbury wrote his album Kansas Anymore about ex-girlfriend and social media personality Emma Chamberlain. The LP describes their relationship in full, hyperfixating on the mistakes and regret Pillsbury carries after Chamberlain ended their romance. Vernon wrote his project’s 2008 debut, For Emma, Forever Ago, in a Wisconsin log cabin during the winter to grieve the end of his relationship with his Emma, a moniker for ex-girlfriend Sara Emma Jensen. The isolation helped him work through his heartbreak while using the ache to craft something emotionally astounding. These albums are not only a gift to Emmas everywhere, but a testament to finding beauty in the aftermath of a heartbreaking circumstance.
Obviously, there are still some notable contrasts between the two artists. Role Model is a cabernet sauvignon with smooth and approachable melodies while Bon Iver is more of a sharp aged cheddar — complex and sometimes challenging, but deeply rewarding. The latter cuts through the velvety wine, blending genres and creating the perfect unlikely pair. Taken together, the two make a duet of reflective lyricism and comfortable gloom.