Orville Peck

This is the latest accepted revision, reviewed on 25 January 2025.

Daniel Pitout (born January 6, 1988), known professionally as Orville Peck, is a South African country musician based in the United States and Canada. He is known for often wearing a mask and not showing his face publicly.[1][2][3][4]

Orville Peck
Peck in 2024
Peck in 2024
Background information
Birth nameDaniel Pitout
Born (1988-01-06) January 6, 1988 (age 37)
Johannesburg, South Africa
OriginCanada
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, musician, actor
Instrument(s)Vocals, drums, guitar, piano
Years active2008–present
Labels
Formerly ofNü Sensae
Websiteorvillepeck.com

He released his debut album Pony in 2019[1] followed by the EP Show Pony the next year. His second studio album Bronco was released in 2022. After a self-imposed hiatus in 2023, Peck released his third studio album Stampede in 2024. W Magazine said that his voice is a "deep, calm bass-baritone that recalls the bygone era of Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison; the (his) haunting guitar riffs drift between rockabilly, blues, and dreamy shoegazing distortions."[5]

In March 2025, Peck is set to make his Broadway debut as the Emcee in the revival of Cabaret at the August Wilson Theatre opposite Eva Noblezada as Sally Bowles.[6]

Early life

Peck was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and lived there until he was 15.[7] As a child, he taught himself music by playing an acoustic guitar and an old Casio keyboard.[8] His father is a sound engineer and Orville did voice-over work for cartoons and other media as a child.[9] Growing up, he took ballet classes for 12 years and performed in musical theater productions. By his early 20s, he had been on national tours of musicals.[9]

Orville Peck moved to London for a foundation degree in acting from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in 2014.[10] He played Jonathan Harris/Peter Pan in the Mischief Theatre production of Peter Pan Goes Wrong at the Apollo Theatre in 2016.[11][12]

Career

Peck performing at First Avenue, an event in Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 2022

Peck self-produced his debut album, Pony and released it in 2019 through a collaboration with Sub Pop.[13] He has noted that he "wrote, produced and played every instrument he could" on the album while working in a coffee shop and living with his parents.[14] In June of that year, he performed his songs "Dead of Night" and "Take You Back" live on CBC Radio One's Q.[15] Pony was named to the initial longlist for the 2019 Polaris Music Prize in June 2019.[16] The album received a Juno Award nomination for Alternative Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2020.[17]

Also in 2019, Peck started an annual Orville Peck's Rodeo, which takes place in different cities across the US and brings in up-and-comers in the country music genre.[18] He performed "Dead of Night" on Jimmy Kimmel Live on January 29, 2020.[19] Peck announced a tour of selected cities in the United States including performances at the Coachella and Stagecoach festivals.[19] In May 2020, he announced the follow-up to his debut album, an EP titled Show Pony, with a release date of June 12, 2020. In June 2020, he announced the delayed release of Show Pony until August 14, 2020, in recognition of the Black Lives Matter movement and the George Floyd protests.[20][21] Peck recorded a cover of "Smalltown Boy" for the 2020 pride edition of the Spotify Singles series. The song was released exclusively on Spotify on June 29, 2020, and everywhere else on July 31, 2020.[22]

In April 2021, Peck was featured on American drag queen and singer Trixie Mattel's EP, Full Coverage, Vol. 1. Peck appeared on a duet cover of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash's "Jackson".[23] Although not credited in the liner notes for the EP, Trixie Mattel has confirmed that the whistle part in "Video Games" is Peck's whistle.[24] In June, Peck was revealed to be the sixth artist on Lady Gaga's Born This Way The Tenth Anniversary, with Peck reimagining the song "Born This Way" in a country style.[25]

On March 16, 2023, Peck made an appearance as a guest on the judge's panel on MTV's RuPaul's Drag Race, alongside RuPaul Charles, Michelle Visage, and Ross Mathews.[26] In 2023, Peck was a coach and judge on My Kind of Country.[27] On April 5, 2024, he released a cover of Ned Sublette's "Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other" with country singer Willie Nelson as the lead single from Stampede, Peck's third studio album and first duets album. The single marked his first release on Warner Records.[28] He announced a headlining North American tour, The Stampede Tour which began on May 28, 2024, in Asheville, North Carolina.[29] In May 2024, Peck released the duet "How Far Will We Take It?" with singer Noah Cyrus, the sister of Miley Cyrus. On June 7, 2024, Peck released the single "Midnight Ride" alongside Kylie Minogue and Diplo.[30]

Artistry

Identity

It has been confirmed that Orville Peck is a persona of Daniel Pitout, drummer of the Canadian punk band Nü Sensae.[31] It was previously speculated that Pitout was Peck based on the similarity of their tattoos[32][33] and Peck's mentioning that he was in a punk band. Pitout was born in Johannesburg[34] as was Peck.[7] Pitout is also listed by ASCAP as the songwriter for Peck's song "Old River"[35] and other songs which match the titles of the songs released by Peck, such as "Roses Are Falling".[36]

Influences

In an interview with National Public Radio on June 18, 2019, Orville said: "I've never raised cattle or anything like that, but I think I've been a cowboy my whole life."[37]Peck strongly identifies with 1970s era country music and lists classic stars Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, Bobbie Gentry, Reba McEntire, and Dolly Parton as his influences. Outside of country music, Peck has mentioned Roy Orbison, Oasis, Whitney Houston, and Lana Del Rey in addition to film directors David Lynch and John Waters as being influences.[38][39]

Personal life

Peck is gay.[32][40] A shirtless selfie of Peck appeared in Out in April 2024,[41] and an interview in the July 2024 issue of Paper was accompanied by semi-nude photos.[42]

In 2008, Pitout posed unmasked for Gayletter.[43] He has given various accounts of how he came to adopt a mask:

  • In a 2019 interview with Vogue: "I just woke up one day and it was on my face, and it has always been there."[44]
  • In 2020: "The only reason I don't talk about it in depth is not because I want to dodge any questions, but because I want people to have their own take on it. I don't want to lay it out and pin it down. I just don't think that's important."[45]
  • In 2023: "fringed mask? I grew up loving country where there was an intersection between theatricality and very honest songwriting. Dolly's a perfect example—the big wigs, the crazy outfits, but it's her. For me, I was obsessed with the Lone Ranger, cowboys hiding their face, so that's what I wanted to do."[46]

As of July 2024, Peck lives in Los Angeles.[47] His home was featured in Architectural Digest in 2023.[48]

Awards and honors

Accolades for Orville Peck
YearAwardRecipient(s) and nominee(s)CategoryResult
2019Polaris Music Prize[16]PonyAlbum of the YearLonglisted
2020Libera Awards[49]HimselfBest Breakthrough ArtistWon
PonyAlbum of the YearNominated
Best Country AlbumWon
"Dead of Night"Video of the YearNominated
Juno Awards[17]PonyAlternative Album of the YearNominated
2021GLAAD Media Awards[50]Show PonyOutstanding Breakthrough ArtistNominated
Queerty Awards[51]"Summertime"Indie Music VidNominated
2022"Born This Way"[52]AnthemNominated
Tom of Finland Foundation[53][54]HimselfCultural Icon AwardWon
Polaris Music Prize[55]BroncoAlbum of the YearLonglisted
2023GLAAD Media Awards[56]Outstanding Music ArtistNominated
Juno Awards[57]Country Album of the YearNominated
Canadian Country Music Awards[58]HimselfBreakthrough Artist or Group of the YearNominated
2024GLAAD Media AwardsGLAAD Vito Russo AwardWon

In June 2020, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the first LGBTQ pride parade, Queerty listed him among the 50 heroes "leading the nation toward equality, acceptance, and dignity for all people".[59][60]

In June 2022, Peck was given the Cultural Icon Award by the Tom of Finland Foundation, "for artistic achievement and immeasurable contributions to the art and culture of our community"; the award was previously presented to Rob Halford, Henry Rollins, Clive Barker, and John Waters.[61] The USPTO registered "Orville Peck trademark (serial number 88665699) on June 2, 2020.[62]

Discography

Orville Peck discography
Studio albums3
EPs4
Singles9
Music videos14

Studio albums

Overview of full-length studio albums by Orville Peck
TitleDetailsPeak chart positions
SCO
[63]
UK
Amer.

[63]
UK
DL

[63]
UK
Cou.

[63]
US
[64]
US
Cou.

[65]
US
Folk

[66]
US
Indie

[67]
US
Rock

[68]
Pony812[A]27
Bronco
  • Released: April 8, 2022
  • Label: Columbia
  • Format: LP, digital download, streaming
2218328011413
Stampede
  • Released: August 2, 2024[70]
  • Label: Warner
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
1981011593318

Extended plays

Overview of extended plays by Orville Peck
TitleDetailsPeak chart positions
UK
Amer.

[63]
UK
DL

[63]
US
Cou.

[65]
US
Folk

[66]
US
Rock

[68]
US
Sales

[69]
Show Pony
  • Released: August 14, 2020[20][21]
  • Label: Columbia
  • Format: vinyl, digital download, streaming
8174685020
Bronco: Chapter 1
  • Released: February 11, 2022[71]
  • Label: Columbia
  • Format: Streaming
Bronco: Chapters 1 & 2
  • Released: March 11, 2022[72]
  • Label: Columbia
  • Format: Streaming
Stampede: Vol. 1
  • Released: May 10, 2024
  • Label: Warner
2738

Singles

As lead artist

Overview of singles by Orville Peck
TitleYearAlbum
"Big Sky"2018Pony
"Dead of Night"2019
"Turn to Hate"
"Summertime"2020Show Pony
"No Glory in the West"
"Smalltown Boy"
(Spotify Singles)
Non-album singles
"Unchained Melody"/"You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"
(as The Unrighteous Brothers with Paul Cauthen)
"Born This Way"
(The Country Road Version)
2021Born This Way The Tenth Anniversary
"Miss Chatelaine" (Iron Hoof Remix)
(with k. d. lang)
Non-album singles
"Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters"2022
"This Masquerade"2023A Song for Leon: A Tribute to Leon Russell
"Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other" (with Willie Nelson)2024Stampede: Vol. 1
"Midnight Ride" (with Kylie Minogue and Diplo)Stampede
"Death Valley High" (with Beck)
"Permanently Lonely"[73]Skincare
"Happy Trails"Non-album single
Overview of singles featuring Orville Peck
TitleYearAlbum
"Jackson"
(Trixie Mattel featuring Orville Peck)
2021Full Coverage, Vol. 1

Guest appearances

TitleYearOther artist(s)Album
"Intro"2020DiploDiplo Presents Thomas Wesley, Chapter 1: Snake Oil
"I'm Making Believe"2023King PrincessA Small Light (Songs from the Limited Series)
"This Is Nowhere" (Long Version)Hilda: Season 2 (Original Series Soundtrack)
"Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other" (Live at The Hollywood Bowl)Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90 (Live at The Hollywood Bowl)
"Friends of Dorothy"2025The WigglesWiggle Up, Giddy Up!

Music videos

Overview of Orville Peck music videos
TitleYearDirector
"Big Sky"[74]2018Deni Cheng
"Dead of Night"[75]2019Michael Maxxis
"Turn to Hate"[76]Orville Peck
Carlos Santolalla
"Hope to Die"[77]Blake Mawson
"Nothing Fades Like the Light"[78]Deni Cheng
"Queen of the Rodeo"[79]2020Austin Peters
"Summertime"[80]Drew Kirsch
Taylor Fauntleroy
"No Glory in the West"[21]Isaiah Seret
"Legends Never Die" (featuring Shania Twain)[81]Cameron Duddy
"Jackson" (with Trixie Mattel)[82]2021Assaad Yacoub
"C'mon Baby, Cry"[83]2022Austin Peters
"Daytona Sand"[84]
"The Curse of the Blackened Eye"[85]
"Hexie Mountains"[86]

Filmography

Television work by Orville Peck
YearTitleRoleNotes
2021The Boulet Brothers' DragulaGuest judgeSeason 4, episode 3
This Is PopHostSeason 1, episode 5
Miley Cyrus Presents: Stand by YouHimselfPerformed "Cowboy Take Me Away" with Cyrus
2022Trixie MotelGuestEpisode 3
2023RuPaul's Drag RaceGuest JudgeSeason 15, episode 12 & 16 (Performer)[87]
RuPaul's Drag Race: UntuckedHimselfEpisode: "Untucked: Wigloose: The Rusical!"
My Kind of CountryWinning coach
Theatre work by Orville Peck
YearTitleRoleNotes
2008West Side StoryActionRoyal City Musical Theatre
The ProducersEnsembleArts Club Theatre Company
2010Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatJoseph's BrotherRoyal City Musical Theatre
2016-2017Peter Pan Goes WrongJonathanApollo Theatre, West End
2025CabaretThe EmceeAugust Wilson Theatre, Broadway

Notes

References