Orville Peck surveys sobriety for his new LP Mule

Orville Peck, the masked country singer known for his unique blend of country, bluegrass, and Americana, is diving deep into his most personal territory with his fourth studio album, Mule. Far from being just a collection of songs, this project serves as an honest chronicle of a transformative year—a journey tracing the complex landscape of addiction, sobriety, and the hard-won process of rebuilding.

Releasing on September 18 via Warner Records, Mule is presented as Peck’s most intimate work yet, offering listeners a raw look at the personal shifts that have reshaped his life. The album successfully weaves classic country sounds with poignant narratives, giving voice to experiences often kept hidden beneath the surface.

The new musical landscape expands alongside the record. Alongside the album announcement, Peck has dropped two new tracks that showcase the breadth of his evolving sound. The album opener, “Prologue (Eulogy of a Man Turned Mule),” features an evocative harmony from Emmylou Harris, Noah Cyrus, and Allison Russell, with lyrics and arrangements crafted by Peck himself.

The lead single, “Too Little, Too Late,” embraces a more triumphant, country/pop inflection, signaling not just reflection, but forward momentum. The songwriting on the album is rich, capturing the bittersweet satisfaction of moving on after heartache, exploring themes that resonate deeply with listeners.

The narrative arc of Mule is visually compelling. The accompanying video for “Prologue (Eulogy of a Man Turned Mule)” places the collaborating artists—Harris, Cyrus, and Russell—in striking settings, some cloaked in black veils and others appearing in nurse uniforms, performing Peck’s imagined eulogy. This visual presentation perfectly sets the stage for an album that transforms an apparent ending into a powerful new beginning.

As Peck prepares to tour with Mule on the Man Turned Mule tour, which kicks off October 28th in Sacramento, California and culminates in Huntington, New York, November 22nd, the project carries an important philanthropic mission. A dollar from every ticket sold will benefit the Trevor Project, supporting crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for LGBTQ+ young people.