Orville Peck is making his way to New York. This March, the country crooner and PAPER cover star steps onto the legendary stage at Carnegie Hall for the 38th Annual Tibet House US Benefit Concert. With this performance, Peck will be stepping into a lineage of artists who’ve turned one-night-only collaborations into cultural milestones.
“It’s the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday, which is really cool and exciting to be able to perform for,” Peck tells PAPER. “But I’m also really excited that Patti Smith is a part of it. Her band is actually the backing band.”
Patti Smith isn’t just another name on the bill for Peck; she’s a personal icon. “Horses was the first album I ever bought,” he shares, noting how that seminal record influenced his own work. “I name all my albums horse-related things. So I think it probably had a little bit to do with that as well.”
The Tibet House US Benefit Concert is more than just a lineup of musical heavyweights — it’s a cultural touchstone that blends activism with artistry. Established in 1989, the event has seen the likes of David Bowie, Philip Glass and Iggy Pop share the stage, all in support of preserving Tibetan culture. This year’s lineup is no less eclectic, featuring legends like Patti Smith and Michael Stipe alongside contemporary icons like Tune-Yards and Arooj Aftab.
For Peck, the concert comes at a pivotal moment. He’s in the middle of packing up his Los Angeles life to move back to New York City, a city he last called home in 2011. But this time, he’s not just returning as a resident — he’s stepping into one of Broadway’s most iconic roles: the Emcee in Cabaret. “I used to do theater growing up and was a dancer professionally, so it’s a role that I always wanted to play,” he says. “It’s definitely a different energy. In Cabaret, I’m playing a character. Whereas when I do my regular show, it’s very much about my stories. It’s very, very personal.”
The duality of these two performances — one rooted in activism and community, the other in theatrical storytelling — feels poetic. Orville Peck isn’t just moving cities or genres; he’s stepping deeper into the layers of his own artistry, all while keeping the mask firmly in place.
We sat down to chat with Orville about moving to New York and upcoming career highlights.
How are you, Orville?
I’m very well, thank you. I’m just in Los Angeles and packing up all my stuff, getting ready to move.
Move to New York City?
Yeah.
Tell me about the new Cabaret role and this performance at Tibet House. How did all of this come to be?
Yeah, so Cabaret approached me and asked if I would be interested in auditioning for the role of The Emcee. This was probably in the summer of last year. I used to do theater growing up and was a dancer professionally, so it’s a role that I always wanted to play. I was really excited, and I said, “For sure.” So I filmed an audition and sent it in. Then when I was doing my concerts in New York last year, they brought me in to do another audition in front of the creative team, and that’s sort of all that happened. A few months later, they asked me if I wanted to do it.
I see all the Cabaret ads on the subway with Adam Lambert. They’re everywhere! Is that gonna be you?
Yeah! That’s gonna be me when it changes over.
Is it a different energy that you channel doing Broadway stuff versus doing your own live performances?
Definitely. I’m a very theatrical performer in my regular performances as well, but the big difference is in Cabaret I’m playing a character. Whereas when I do my regular show, it’s very much about my stories. It’s very, very personal and about my life. That’s the main difference. I think it’s the same sort of performance energy because I kind of give a bit of that already.
Tell me about the Tibet House performance. It seems like such a huge deal.
It’s very exciting to be asked to do that. It’s the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday, which is really cool and exciting to be able to perform for. It’s for a good cause. But I’m also really excited that Patti Smith is a part of it. Her band is actually the backing band. I’ve been obsessed with Patti Smith since I was a teenager. Horses is the first album that I ever bought, and I name all my albums horse-related things. So I think it probably had a little bit to do with that as well.
I was gonna ask who else on the lineup you’re most excited to see or interact with.
Yeah, Patti. But also, my friend Allison Russell is performing as well, who I have a song with. We did a duet on my last album, Stampede. I’m excited that she’ll be there, too.
Have you ever lived in New York?
Yeah, I lived in New York in 2011 for a while. So it’s been a long time. Obviously a lot has changed since then. I’m very excited to live in New York again, for sure.
You’re a PAPER favorite. You obviously did your cover last year. What else are you working on right now that fans can be excited about?
I’m working on a lot of music. I will be all the time I’m in New York as well. There’s at least one thing in the works, but who knows, maybe more than that.
Photography: Ben Prince