Miley launches tenth studio album Bass Persuades and moves forward without a last name

Miley Cyrus marks a new chapter in her career with the release of Bass Persuades, her tenth studio album. For this project, the singer officially dropped her last name and will simply go by Miley from now on. She also made a label switch: after years at Columbia Records, Bass Persuades comes out on Atlantic Records. The ten track album dropped on Friday, September 17th and follows Something Beautiful, the ambitious album and accompanying film she released in 2024.

The album was co written and produced by Miley herself, alongside longtime collaborator Kid Harpoon, her fiancé Maxx Morando, Michael Pollack, and production duo The Monsters and Strangerz. Two featured artists appear on the record: Brooklyn post punk outfit Model/Actriz, who also served as producers on several tracks, and Andrew Wyatt of Miike Snow, a longtime collaborator of Miley's. Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips also lends his voice to one of the tracks, with additional musical contributions from string arranger Davide Rossi and saxophonist James King, among others.

Soundwise, Bass Persuades moves between several worlds. The title single is a fully committed dance pop record, while songs like the second single Let's Get Married show a slower, more romantic side. That track, in which Miley sings about wanting to marry her fiancé Morando, was accompanied by a music video filmed at the iconic Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles, with Morando himself in the starring role. Beyond that, the album features ballads built around atmospheric synthesizers and breezy acoustic songs with classic pop melodies. It closes with a remix of the title track called Bass Persuades Remixx, though Billboard notes that this version doesn't differ enough from the original to really make an impression.

In a statement on Instagram, Miley described the meaning behind the album title: "Music seizes us. We feel it, sing it, sometimes dance to it, let it go, and move on. It is powerful, vulnerable, tender, and strong." Elsewhere she added that the album came together quickly, fitting the pace of her life over the past twenty years. She described the record as a reflection of everything she has been through, and of the sense of calm she began to find when she started taking things a little slower.

One personal detail surrounding the making of the album stands out. Miley sent an advance copy to her godmother Dolly Parton, which led to what turned out to be their final conversation. In an interview with Zane Lowe, Miley looked back on that special bond: "Though we were so different, that's what made us perfect for each other."

To bring Bass Persuades to life on stage, Miley will perform two concerts at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, on October 16th and 18th. Model/Actriz will open both shows. No European dates have been announced for Dutch fans yet, but given the album's broad pop appeal and the strategic move to Atlantic Records, this is definitely one to keep an eye on.