ROLE MODEL Marks a New Beginning With “Oh, Gemini”
Photo: Daniel Prakopcyk
“But without you, what am I? Oh, Gemini, please remember my name.”
The last time I wrote about ROLE MODEL, it was for a review of “a little more time,” a heartfelt, homesick, sad-but-happy love letter to a special city and a special someone. Since then, the times have changed, the special someone is now a someone of the past, and after a full trip around the sun, the LA-based bedroom pop star has returned to our eyes and ears with “Oh, Gemini.”
Some might call “Oh, Gemini” the “breakup” song, but I am going to call it the “new beginnings” song. Amidst a flurry of acoustic guitars and angelic harmonies, ROLE MODEL goes through the motions of heartbreak, holding onto the distant memory of an ex while simultaneously trying his hardest to let go.
Lyrically, ROLE MODEL captures the post-heartbreak, push-and-pull dilemma, especially in the chorus. “And ooh, we’re hanging on by threads / And I can’t hold it any longer on my end … / But without you, what am I? Oh, Gemini, please remember my name,” he sings. The songwriting of “Oh, Gemini” is self-aware and self-reflective; it feels as though ROLE MODEL is respecting the privacy of a public relationship while giving himself permission to acknowledge the emotional turmoil it has left behind.
In the official music video, directed by William Disena and ROLE MODEL himself, we watch ROLE MODEL try his best to enjoy a party, but it is evident that his mind is lost in other people and places. Towards the end, he learns to dance in the rain, shortly after sharing a moment with Kevin Abstrac—among other recognizable partygoers—and between the color palette and the use of lights, the video makes for a stunning work of art.
While the subject matter is undeniably heart-wrenching, especially for those who are aware of the situation, ROLE MODEL’s delivery, both visually and sonically, offers a glimmer of hope. Often, a breakup is a means for rediscovering oneself, and “Oh, Gemini” feels like a re-discovery for ROLE MODEL’s songwriting and overall artistry. No matter the capacity—with or without someone—ROLE MODEL has undeniably mastered the art of writing about love.
Watch the "Oh, Gemini" video below:
