'I thought I would lose my career': Orville Peck on addiction and creating his best album yet

Though the masked country singer has a No 1 album and duets with superstars under his belt, his demons and mental health caught up to him

'I thought I would lose my career': Orville Peck on addiction and creating his best album yet

TL;DR

  • Orville Peck's new album 'Mule' is a deeply personal and literal memoir of a challenging year marked by heartbreak and addiction.
  • He recounts a near-fatal overdose in June 2023, which led him to enter rehabilitation, though he initially resisted the process.
  • Peck attributes his struggles partly to the pressures of fame and a desire to maintain his 'otherness,' stemming from his upbringing.
  • After experiencing a moment of profound fear in November 2023, Peck committed to sobriety and has been sober since.
  • The album title 'Mule' symbolizes his dual identity and feeling of being 'trapped somewhere in between.'
  • Despite its dark themes, 'Mule' is considered his best and catchiest album, leading to his Grand Ole Opry debut and renewed love life.