Orville Peck's Unique Take on Holiday Music
Orville Peck is bringing his unique perspective to holiday music this season. During a recent chat with PEOPLE at Little Big Town’s Christmas at the Opry event in Nashville, Peck shared insights about his new Christmas song, "Happy Trails." The artist, known for his distinctive sound, confessed he typically does not enjoy holiday music, saying, "I don’t love holiday music typically."
However, Peck was inspired by the poignant, melancholic aspects of the genre. He expressed, "I like a lot of the sad Christmas songs." His ambition was to create an emotionally rich song reminiscent of Bing Crosby. The song beautifully captures the feeling of yearning to be with a loved one during the holiday season.
In "Happy Trails," Peck offers a bittersweet farewell to his loved one while expressing a message of hope. The lyrics convey love's complexities, as he sings, "nothing’s ever easy and love is hard to find." Still, he reflects on the value of love, noting, "Just finding it once makes it worth all the tries."
In his personal life, Peck has developed a unique holiday tradition. He shared that each Christmas, he and his partner travel to a new destination. "It’s kind of this new tradition to spend Christmas in the airport or on an airplane," he explained. This year, they’re excited about their travels to India. He finds the experience magical, stating, "It’s actually quite magical in a weird way — so empty and super quiet. So it’s quite cute."
Peck's holiday experiences from childhood also differ significantly from the norms. Growing up in South Africa, Christmas occurred during the heat of summer. "We’d do presents and then we’d swim all day in the pool," he reminisced. This recognizes how different festive celebrations can be across cultures.
Peck's career has enjoyed significant milestones recently. In August, he received the GLAAD Vito Russo Award. Additionally, he released his third studio album, *Stampede*, which features collaborations with icons such as Willie Nelson and Elton John, artists he has long admired. "I just couldn’t believe they wanted to work with me as well," he recalled with awe.
Peck's journey in country music hasn't been without challenges. He reflected on being an openly gay artist in a traditional genre. He noted how some people reacted skeptically, stating, "It was a lot of people practically laughing in my face." Nevertheless, he remained determined, adding, "If someone tells me I can't do something, it makes me want to do it even more."
### Theatricality and Personal Expression
The artist also delved into the significance of his signature fringe mask. Rather than simply embodying a persona, Peck emphasized the theatrical aspects of country music. He shared, "I grew up loving country where there was an intersection between theatricality and very honest songwriting."
Peck was inspired by classic characters like the Lone Ranger, "Cowboys hiding their face," he described. His goal is to combine his vulnerable songwriting with a higher level of theatrical performance, reflecting both personal and artistic aspects of his work.
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