If You’re A Fan Of Country, You Should Be Listening To Orville Peck
Samantha Colleran, August 2020
I’ll admit it: I’ve given into the country fad, but only a little bit. I let myself be pulled into the beautiful world of Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves, and after I swore that was as far as I would go, another country star decided to capture my attention. I’d like to introduce you all to Orville Peck, the masked country singer with an insanely powerful voice showcased on his 2019 self produced debut album titled Pony.
Orville Peck may hide behind the mask, but in an interview with Billboard he actually said the mask makes him feel as though he can be more honest in his music, “I don’t feel like I’m hiding behind a mask at all… It’s actually quite the opposite– the mask and all of that has allowed me to be a lot more exposed”. Prior to the masked gig, Peck was involved in the Canadian punk scene, although he’s never personally revealed which band/s he was involved with, and he also has a background in theater and his voice is classically trained. (Note: His identity has been figured out, but if you prefer the element of mystery, I suggest not looking too deep into it!)
The entirety of Pony has elements of an older and more nostalgic country sound, while also incorporating other sounds such as new wave, all while singing about progressive topics not generally seen in country. “Dead Of Night”, the album opener and my personal favorite track, is about two male hustlers traveling through the deserts of Nevada. “Big Sky” sees Peck openly singing about past lovers such as a boxer, a jailer, among others. Those topics aren’t ones you would immediately associate with country music, but that’s what makes Orville so special and such an important presence in the country world. He’s also rather humble about his place in the genre; speaking to Billboard, Peck said “I’m not consciously trying to create a new perspective for country music, I’m just trying to make a country music album… My perspective is the only one I have”.
Self described as a “visual learner” who creates music in a “cinematic” way, Peck is definitely an artist you’ll want to keep on your radar. He’s a true storyteller with his music, every song paints a picture in your mind and the entire album takes you on an adventure. He takes inspiration from the styles of Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash, who are strong storytellers. Peck applies his own spin to their style and makes it his own and quite frankly, it’s incredible. Pony is an album I wish I had discovered when it first came out, but better late than never, right?
Sam’s Song Selection
1. “Dead Of Night”: The first time I heard this song I immediately fell in love with the sound. For some strange reason, it made me think of The Outsiders soundtrack. I feel like it could easily fit in among those songs despite the fact the movie was released over 30 years ago.
2. “Roses Are Falling”: This slower number isn’t a typical love song, it’s more of an “I love you so much I could kill you” song, as described by Peck himself. The dark lyrics are masked by a nostalgic 50s sound and it’s genius.
3. “Hope To Die”: A song that reflects on a past relationship, “Hope To Die” is one of the strongest moments on Pony. With a powerful final chorus that introduces a full band of instruments, you’ll certainly feel a swell of emotions about a long lost love, even if you’ve never been in a relationship.
Pony is available to stream on Spotify and Apple Music. Let me know your thoughts on the album in the comments, and be sure to check out Orville’s EP Show Pony when it’s released next Friday, August 14 (if you need more of a push to listen, Shania Twain is going to be featured on one of the tracks)!
Samantha’s gone country! Lol! Another gem I would never have known about. Really like him! Thank you again for sharing such an interesting artist.