What better time than Pride month to listen to the country croonings of openly gay singer Orville Peck? “Hexie Mountains” from Peck’s second album Bronco, released in 2022, is a soulful track exploring the reality of mental health, emotions, and making peace with one’s own mind. With lyrics like these, the song showcases Peck’s powerful songwriting skills:
I’m not saying I’m not scaredThat the wind’ll blow and stick my stare
But wouldn’t it be nice if I could hold it off again?Wouldn’t it be swell if I could get things off my chest?“Maybe you’d learn to live with what’s inside your head”The Hexie Mountains said
Peck, who’s currently on tour and has said “Hexie Mountains” is his favorite song on Bronco, has proudly featured drag queens at his performances and covered Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way.”
Peck, known for always wearing a mask to cover his face onstage, brings a powerful energy to this tender song, a contrast with some of the more fast-paced tracks on Bronco.