“I’m wearing a mask because I’m a country western star,” singer Orville Peck says of his trademark fringed face covering. “The point is combining ultra-sincerity with a heightened version of who you are at your core.” In his Up Next short film, Peck reveals his thoughts, motivations, and inspirations as he tours across the country. And in an interview with Apple Music’s Matt Wilkinson, he talks about honing his talents as a performer from a young age, getting past his insecurities on stage, and how his live performances bring all types of people together. Peck’s Sub Pop debut, Pony, toys with long-standing country tropes and the very notion of honesty and authenticity; check out the album, interview, and film along with the Up Next playlist featuring more burgeoning artists.