Orville Peck has arrived on the cover of Playgirl, and his signature mask is demonstrating admirable job security.
The openly gay country singer strips down for a revealing shoot photographed by Anna Garbowska, keeping that instantly recognizable accessory in place.
For anyone with a weakness for a confident cowboy, consider this fair notice that your scrolling schedule may require adjustment.
The feature arrives ahead of Mule, his new album due September 18, and pairs its striking photographs with a conversation about masculinity, creativity and recovery.
A cowboy on his own terms
Asked by Playgirl about the appeal of cowboys, Peck points to the pleasure of playing with a masculine image so frequently associated with heterosexuality.
He also emphasizes that gay cowboys exist in both contemporary life and history.
His enthusiasm for rebellion and chaps supplies the interview with a suitably mischievous flourish.
It is an appealing combination: a familiar cultural figure, an openly gay artist and enough confidence to make the whole thing feel entirely his own.
The photographs invite a little admiration, while the conversation gives readers more to stay for once they have recovered their powers of concentration.
A more personal record
Peck’s official store describes Mule as a chronological account of a difficult year, following addiction, the pursuit of sobriety and the work of rebuilding.
Its musical influences include classic country storytelling, bluegrass and Americana.
In People’s coverage of the interview, Peck explains that he hopes his openness will encourage queer listeners to recognize distress and feel more comfortable reaching out to one another.
He also describes choosing greater directness in his writing rather than leaving every difficult experience wrapped in metaphor.
That gives the album a personal weight beyond the excitement surrounding a new release.
Listeners will have the opportunity to hear how those experiences take shape in the songs when Mule arrives later this month.
The mask has its own meaning
One especially thoughtful part of the original interview concerns the mask itself.
Peck describes it as something that helped him feel protected enough to become more vulnerable in his art.
That is his explanation for an accessory audiences might otherwise be tempted to interpret for him.
It also makes the visual proposition of this shoot particularly fitting: the recognizable stage persona remains, alongside a conversation that offers a more personal perspective.
A performer can enjoy being playful and provocative while speaking seriously about the life behind the music.
Here, Peck gives both sides room.
We will be listening when the album arrives.
Until then, the mask appears to be the hardest-working item in his wardrobe.
📷 Anna Garbowska / Playgirl
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