Country music star Orville Peck has become the first gay recording artist to grace the cover of Playgirl Magazine. In his feature interview, Peck chats about his year of growth, the intention and creativity behind his new album Mule (set for release on September 18), his sobriety journey, and why cowboys are so sexy.
Yes, that signature face mask is still in place, but thanks to a behind-the-scenes video plus some well-snapped photos by photographer Anna Garbowska, we get to see a lot of the ripped cowboy.
And speaking of cowboys, Peck shares his thoughts on what makes cowboys so sexy:
“Anything that plays with the OG trope of male strippers and images of what masculinity is supposed to be, tied to heterosexuality, is sexy. Not only is there a reality of gay cowboys in the world and in history, but I think the idea of a cowboy is such a trope of masculinity. What’s sexier than a little bit of rebellion? And chaps? If you don’t think that’s gay, I don’t know what to tell you.”
Orville Peck On New Album ‘MULE’
Peck also opens up about his deeply personal new album, Mule, an eclectic musical meditation chronicling a wild year filled with partying, recognizing his addiction, entering rehab, and ultimately reinvention. It’s a vulnerable, frank confessional, even for a boundary-breaking artist.
“I always try to be vulnerable, but with Mule I tried to be as blatant as I could about what I was going through and not present that in metaphors or poetry,” says Peck. “I usually leave it up for interpretation, but this time I wanted to call it what it is.”
“I have a lyric in Mule where I say, ‘It may seem like I changed, but it’s not change. I think it’s more like coming home.’ That line makes me emotional because what I realized about sobriety and recovery, it wasn’t about changing or fixing myself. It was about clearing out everything to be more of who I have always been.”
Check out the latest single, “Already Gone,” from Mule, depicting the mix of emotions Peck experienced when he checked into rehab.
“The team at Playgirl loves Orville Peck,” shares Playgirl Creative Director Mickey Boardman. “He’s one of the most original artists in music today, and he loves taking his clothes off, our favorite combination.”
The full photo spread and exclusive interview can be found on Playgirl.com here. Each month, Playgirl serves up a sassy new digital edition featuring a celebrity cover, in-depth interviews, and, of course, lots of eye candy.
