Orville Peck is the stage name of Daniel Pitout, a South African singer-songwriter known for his distinctive voice and his unique blend of country, folk, and alternative music. One of his trademarks is the fringed Lone Ranger-style mask he wears, keeping his identity concealed. Orville gained attention for his debut album “Pony,” released in 2019, which received critical acclaim. He’s since continued to make a mark in the music industry with his enigmatic persona and captivating performances.
Early Life and Family
Daniel Pitout, born on 6 January 1988, hails from South Africa, though many assume he’s Canadian due to the extensive time spent in the country. However, his roots lie in Johannesburg, where he spent the formative years of his life until the age of 15 before relocating to Canada in 2003.
Raised in a music-filled household, he was exposed to diverse genres, ranging from rock to soul. His father, a sound engineer, particularly favored bands such as The Who and AC/DC, contributing to Daniel’s eclectic musical upbringing. Daniel’s affinity for punk and country music blossomed during his youth.
He took the initiative to learn musical instruments independently from a young age. As he grew up, his father’s 1975 Ibanez Concord acoustic guitar was always within reach, and he honed his skills on it. Additionally, an old Casio keyboard served as his tool for self-taught piano playing. Singing along to records became a regular pastime, further enhancing his musical abilities. Despite lacking formal music training in his childhood, he views this as an advantage, believing that approaching music from a creative rather than a technical standpoint is invaluable. As he delved deeper into music and focused more on singing, Daniel eventually took singing lessons.
Education
Daniel attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts for his education. During his time there, he underwent training that included a holistic approach known as ‘Freeing that natural voice.’ Reflecting on this experience, he shared that for many years, he assumed that he had a predominantly high register in his voice, and was unaware of his ability to sing in a lower range—a discovery that revealed the more comfortable and authentic natural state of his voice.
Career as Orville Peck
His voice transitioned from a more average register to a deeper and fuller tone, establishing the distinctive sound for which he’s recognized today – he captivates audiences when he sings, drawing attention to his unique vocal qualities.
Studio Albums
His self-produced studio album, “Pony,” was released in March 2019, characterized by elements of country, alternative country, and cowboy pop, delving into themes of love and heartbreak. Featuring notable tracks such as “Dead of Night,” “Big Sky,” and “Turn to Hate,” the album achieved significant chart success, securing the No.8 position on the Official Americana Albums chart, and No.5 on the US Heatseekers Albums chart.
Orville Peck is Daniel Pitout of Nu Sensae & Eating Out (debut album & tour coming soon) https://t.co/Fb7XTsibs6 pic.twitter.com/HHKIjNye3I
— BrooklynVegan (@brooklynvegan) March 9, 2019
His second studio album, “Bronco,” released in April 2022 under Columbia Records, continues to showcase Orville’s talent in country and alternative country music, incorporating elements of psychedelic rock and bluegrass. With standout tracks such as “Daytona Sand,” “Kalahari Down” and “Let Me Drown,” the album made a significant impact on various charts. It secured the No.2 position on the UK Country Albums chart, and reached No.80 on Billboard 200. Additionally, “Bronco” made notable appearances on other Billboard charts, including Folk Albums (No.4), Top Country Albums (No.11), and Top Rock Albums (No.13).
EP Albums
Building on the success of his studio albums, Orville released the EP “Show Pony” in 2020. Notably, he collaborated with the renowned Canadian country singer-songwriter Shania Twain on a duet entitled “Legends Never Die”, and showcased their performance on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.” Expanding on the “Bronco” series, he released the EPs “Bronco: Chapter 1” and “Bronco: Chapters 1 & 2” in 2022, on a streaming format.
He has nearly 850,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.
Orville played the majority of the instruments in his earlier releases, due to the simple fact that he had no one else available to take on these roles. While he may not possess an extensive technical understanding of music, he demonstrated a remarkable ability to quickly pick up various instruments. Despite having other musicians contribute to some parts in later releases, he remains the sole producer of all his music, largely attributed to his belief that he maintains a clear vision of what he wants to achieve in his musical creations.
TV Appearances
Orville was invited to serve as a guest judge on the American reality TV competition series, “The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula” (2021) and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” (2023).
In 2021, he was featured in “Miley Cyrus Presents: Stand by You,” as he performed the Dixie Chicks’ song “Cowboy Take Me Away” alongside Miley.
In 2023, along with Mickey Guyton and Jimmie Allen, Orville took on the role of a talent scout and coach in Apple TV+’s “My Kind of Country”, a music competition series aimed at discovering the next unconventional and extraordinary country music star from around the globe – Orville had the privilege of coaching the winner of the series.
His Mysterious Persona
Orville Peck’s exceptional voice, coupled with his distinctive fringed mask that conceals his face, quickly garnered him a devoted following, sparking curiosity and intrigue among fans eager to unveil the man behind the mask. Eventually, he was revealed to be Daniel Pitout, known for his involvement in Canadian garage and punk groups Nü Sensae and Eating Out.
Daniel began his professional music career in 2008, preceding the Orville Peck persona and mask. Co-founding the Nü Sensae band with high school friend Andrea Lukic, Daniel assumed the role of drummer, while Andrea was the vocalist; guitarist Brody McKnight joined the ensemble later. The band enjoyed success with several hit singles before taking an hiatus in 2014. Subsequently, Daniel ventured into a new project, forming the band Eating Out and taking on the role of frontman.
The revelation of Orville Peck’s true identity as Daniel Pitout unfolded through various discernible connections between the two personas. Clues included shared tattoos, a common birthplace in Johannesburg, and public endorsements on social media, with Daniel actively promoting Orville Peck on his Facebook and Twitter accounts, as well as through the support of his former band, Nü Sensae. Additionally, credits on Daniel’s AllMusic page and ASCAP listings showed his role as the songwriter for Orville’s songs such as “Roses Are Falling” and “Old River.”
On Concealing His Identity
There’s a common misconception that Orville Peck is deliberately crafting a persona or character with his cowboy mask. However, his affinity for country music dates back to his childhood, in which he developed a fascination with figures such as the Lone Ranger, and the concept of cowboys concealing their faces. This childhood influence inspired his choice to blend deeply personal and vulnerable songwriting with a theatrical and performative element. Explaining further, Orville revealed that his grandfather served as a horseback sheriff in KwaZulu-Natal, fostering a genuine interest in the cowboy aesthetic.
In interviews, he clarified that his reluctance to delve deeply into the specifics of the mask’s symbolism isn’t to evade questions but rather to allow people to interpret it in their own way. This deliberate ambiguity encourages a diverse range of perspectives, allowing fans to connect with his music and persona in a manner that resonates personally with each individual.
On Being An Openly Gay Country Music Singer
Daniel shared that many individuals laughed at him, asserting that being an openly gay man in country music would inevitably fail. Throughout his career, he’s faced numerous disheartening moments. Despite the challenges, he remained resilient, keeping his chin up, and steadfastly rejecting any notion that he couldn’t pursue his aspirations. In the face of adversity, his determination only intensified; when someone declared that he couldn’t achieve something, it fueled his motivation to prove them wrong.
Personal Life
Daniel Pitout openly identified as gay; however, he’s chosen not to disclose any information about his partner, if he has one. Consequently, there’s been speculation that he’s currently single. At one point, fans speculated that Daniel might be in a relationship with producer Diplo, particularly after the producer reportedly accompanied him to the Grammy Awards. As neither party has addressed these speculations, they remain unconfirmed rumors.
Interesting Facts
- Daniel founded the AIDS Day Music Project in 2012, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and funds through music and art.
- Primarily, he plays a White Falcon from Gretsch, which stands out as his favorite guitar. Despite his fondness for it, he harbors a fear of taking it on tour. Instead, he opts to bring it into every hotel room he stays in, choosing not to store it on the bus due to his anxiety about the possibility of someone stealing it.
- Daniel learned to play the guitar using only five strings, excluding the high E string. This choice stemmed from his lack of knowledge on how to replace a broken string once it snapped.
- In 2023, his mid-century tree house, located on a 7,000-square-foot property in Los Angeles, was featured in Architectural Digest.
Appearance
Daniel Pitout has a height of 6ft feet 2ins (189cms) and a weight of 150lbs (68kgs). He has light blonde hair and blue eyes. As with Orville Peck, his face is consistently concealed with a black leather mask. Hanging from the bottom is a row of fringe, and the length, color, and style vary from time to time.
Net Worth
Daniel Pitout has an estimated net worth of $2.5 million, as of March 2024, according to authoritative sources.
