Orville Peck on recording Stampede, meeting Harry Styles and more
Masked musician Orville Peck is just like Us – he can’t stop talking Chappell Roan.
“I’m obsessed with Chappell. I love [The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess] … I think she is so talented,” Peck, 36, shared exclusively We weekly before his Weekend 1 performance at the 2024 Austin City Limits music festival.
Peck and Roan, 26, rocked back-to-back sets on opposite sides of Austin’s Zilker Park on Sunday, October 6. Although their performances didn’t overlap, their audiences did – both artists played to fans in glittering cowboy hats and waving Pride flags.
“I think she’s so cool for what she stands for and how she stands for it,” Peck said Us. “She’s really sweet.”
Peck himself knows everything about standing for something. Since releasing his first album, PonyIn 2019, Peck has attracted listeners with his deep voice and raw emotion, as well as his mysterious atmosphere. The country crooner wears a mask: “I want people to have their own opinion about it,” he once said GQ Australia – and he sings candidly about romances with men.
“There are a million different types of country fans. There are a million different types of country artists. That has always been the case,” he said Us in Texas when asked how the genre has made strides to become more inclusive.
While Peck is a shining star of country music’s next generation, he still has a love for the voices that raised him. His latest album, Rushconsists entirely of collaborations and contains duets with icons such as Willie Nelson, Elton John And Kylie Minogue.
The only artist left on his collaboration bucket list? “Dolly Parton,” Peck said Us. “I feel like she and Willie Nelson are two of the last great legends in the country [music] and I have Willie, so I’m one away.
Scroll down for more of Peck’s revelations about recording Rush and meeting Harry Styles:
We weekly: How does it feel to be at ACL?
Orville Peck: It’s literally my favorite festival. I played it in 2019, I believe. I just love it. I mean, I love Texas, I love Austin, and ACL always kills it with the lineup. I feel like playing, but I’ve also been busy with everyone all weekend. It was so much fun. … Teddy Swims, my friend Teddy, was great. Benson Boone was incredible. I’m excited to see Sturgill [Simpson]. Of course, Chappell Roan.
Us: You’ve worked with some pretty big legends – Shania Twain, Willie Nelson, Kylie Minogue. How special is it to be embraced by those kinds of artists?
Orville: It’s really great. You know, you’re a fan of their music first and foremost, at least I am. When I get to work with these people, that part of me goes crazy because I can’t believe I’m even getting to know them, let alone making something with them. It’s my favorite thing. I like collaboration. It’s such a great thing to do.
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Us: Rush is such a great album because the collaborations are so diverse. How did you go about choosing who to present?
Orville: Most of them are friends, which is so cool to say… but I just respect them so much for what they do as musicians. So that went in. There is [also] people I’ve looked up to all my life, like Willie Nelson or Elton John, and [I’m] Luckily I know them too. I think there [were] only about three people on the album that I didn’t know beforehand. It felt a lot like I was just approaching friends and colleagues.
Us: Any highlights from the recording process of the album to share?
Orville: It was a very long process. I think it was about two years in the making. Getting the schedules of 18 different artists together is the craziest thing ever. … It was a real mountain to climb. [Moments] those that stand out are, for example, that I got to be in the studio with Elton, which is the best because I love being with Elton John. He’s always so funny. He loves dirty humor and it’s always the best time with him because he just bursts into laughter. He is the sweetest man. He has a great atmosphere.
Us: We’ve seen the country genre expand its reach in recent years. How do you hope it remains more inclusive?
Orville: That’s always the hope with country, and with everything, but especially with country. It has of course become a big part of what I do and what I stand for. There are a million different types of country fans. There are a million different types of country artists. They have always been there. It’s long past time for these people to tell their stories in the mainstream and get a chance to shine. I’m so glad that seems to be happening more and more. I love that everyone is embracing their inner country vibe, because country music started with completely different roots, so that should apply to everyone, you know?
Us: Are there any emerging artists that you are obsessed with?
Orville: I don’t know if we can even call her more up-and-coming, but Chappell. I’m obsessed with Chappell. I love [The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess]it’s so good. It’s the first time I’ve had an album on repeat in a while. I think she’s so talented. I think she’s so cool because of what she stands for and how she stands for it. She’s really sweet. I’ve been lucky enough to chat with her, and she’s super cool. I love Chappell.
Us: She’s been so open about the fact that touring is overwhelming, and I know you’ve canceled shows in the past. Do you have any advice for someone like her who is so quickly thrust into the spotlight?
Orville: It’s an unimaginable amount of pressure. I can’t imagine that, especially at that level. I think she is doing the right thing by taking care of herself and making herself a priority. I know sometimes that comes across to the fans as maybe ungrateful or something. But the point is, everyone deserves a sick day. Everyone deserves to make their mental health a priority. It doesn’t mean we aren’t grateful or don’t love what we do, but it’s an impossible ask for us to be 100 percent all the time. I’m very happy that this is starting to become more and more of a trend, because there is enormous pressure to always perform. No one is capable of that. …I recently canceled a show because I lost my voice. I’m not going to put on a good show if I can’t find peace in it, you know? It’s important.
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Us: How would you compare the crowds at a festival like this to your own shows?
Orville: I like playing at festivals because my favorite thing is to win people over. You know, people who might have misconceptions about the country [music]people who may have a misconception about my mask and the way I present myself. Or just people who don’t know who I am at all. That’s what I like most: having people [into it] towards the end. That’s the best.
Us: One of the first times I saw you live was at a Harry Styles show [in 2021]. Have you kept in touch with him at all?
Orville: Yes, we talk every now and then. He’s obviously super busy, but he’s such a sweetheart. When I touch him he always responds. The thing about Harry is that he’s actually just a really nice person and a very down to earth guy, so it’s easy to talk to him. He has no ego.
Us: Any fun backstage memories from those Halloween shows?
Orville: Well… it was the first time I officially met him. They let him into my dressing room and I was in my underwear. The first time I met Harry we were just standing [there] while I was having a conversation and I was almost completely naked and like, “Hey man.”
