By Azzam Bilal 
HangupsMusic.com – Los Angeles, The landscape of contemporary pop music is rarely static, yet few artists navigate its shifting tides with the restless, chameleonic energy of Miley Cyrus. In a move that signals both a personal and professional rebirth, the singer has officially transitioned to the mononym "Miley" for her latest studio endeavor, Bass Persuades. Released this week to immediate fanfare, the album arrives alongside a visually arresting and emotionally intimate music video for the standout track, “Let’s Get Married.” Directed by the legendary fashion photographer Mert Alas and set against the storied, velvet-draped backdrop of the Chateau Marmont, the video serves as a public testament to Miley’s current creative and romantic state of mind, featuring her real-life partner, Maxx Morando.
The arrival of Bass Persuades marks a remarkably prolific chapter in Miley’s career. It has been less than a year since the debut of her 2024 project, Something Beautiful, an album that further solidified her status as a vocal powerhouse capable of traversing rock, soul, and psychedelic pop. However, Bass Persuades feels like a departure into more immediate, perhaps even more visceral territory. By dropping her surname for this release, Miley joins the ranks of singular icons like Madonna, Prince, and Cher—artists whose identities are so firmly etched into the cultural consciousness that a single name suffices. This transition to "Miley" is not merely a branding exercise; it appears to be a shedding of skin, a way to separate the legacy of the "Cyrus" name from the raw, unfiltered artistry she is currently exploring.
The centerpiece of this launch is undoubtedly the music video for “Let’s Get Married.” Choosing the Chateau Marmont as the location was a deliberate stroke of aesthetic genius. The West Hollywood hotel, known for its "Old Hollywood" glamour and its history of celebrity escapades, provides a sense of timelessness and seclusion. Under the direction of Mert Alas—one half of the powerhouse duo Mert & Marcus—the visual language of the video is high-fashion yet grounded in a palpable, lived-in intimacy. Alas, who has a long-standing creative relationship with Miley, captures her through a lens that feels both voyeuristic and celebratory.
What has captured the internet’s attention most, however, is the inclusion of Maxx Morando. The drummer for the Los Angeles-based rock band Liily has been linked to Miley for several years, but their appearances together in her professional work have remained curated and intentional. In “Let’s Get Married,” the chemistry between the two is the driving force of the narrative. While the song’s title suggests a formal union, the video itself plays with the concept of commitment in a more modern, fluid sense. Observers were quick to note that despite the romantic themes and the presence of her actual fiancé, no rings are exchanged on screen. This choice mirrors Miley’s own public philosophy regarding her personal life: a focus on the feeling and the moment rather than the traditional markers of institutionalized romance.
Reflecting on the album’s creation via Instagram, Miley shared a rare glimpse into her internal timeline. “It’s been less than a year since starting to create this album and now releasing it,” she wrote to her millions of followers. “Having this record keep up with the way my life moves in real time and still feel so alive is special.” This statement highlights a shift in the modern music industry’s release cycles. While many major label artists spend years in a "cycle"—writing, recording, and then embarking on a two-year promotional tour—Miley is operating with the speed and agility of an independent creator. By capturing her life "in real time," she ensures that the emotions conveyed in the lyrics are still fresh, preventing the disconnect that often happens when an artist has to perform songs written three years prior.
The sonic architecture of Bass Persuades was first teased earlier this month with the release of the title track. True to its name, the lead single is a rhythmic, low-end-heavy exploration of dance and alternative textures. To further push the boundaries of the project, Miley enlisted the New York art-punk outfit Model/Actriz for a subsequent remix. This collaboration is telling of Miley’s current musical appetite. Model/Actriz is known for their jagged, industrial-leaning sound and high-intensity performances. By aligning herself with such an avant-garde act, Miley is signaling that Bass Persuades is intended to be more than a collection of radio-friendly hits; it is a project rooted in the underground clubs and the experimental edges of the pop spectrum.
The "Miley" era seems to be characterized by a refusal to be pinned down. Since her historic Grammy wins for the global smash “Flowers,” she has had the leverage to do exactly what she wants. While Something Beautiful felt like a lush, curated experience, Bass Persuades feels like a reaction to that polish—something more kinetic and perhaps more "persuasive" in its groove. The title itself suggests a surrender to the music, an invitation to let the rhythm dictate the movement of the body and the soul.
The Chateau Marmont setting for “Let’s Get Married” also serves as a bridge between Miley’s past and her present. As an artist who grew up in the harsh glare of the paparazzi lens, she has a complicated relationship with Los Angeles. By reclaiming the Marmont—a place where so many Hollywood legends sought refuge or met their downfall—she is positioning herself as a survivor and a sovereign of the city. The video’s aesthetic, characterized by grainy film textures and moody lighting, avoids the hyper-glossy finish of typical pop visuals, opting instead for a look that feels like a private home movie shot on an expensive budget.
Maxx Morando’s influence on Miley’s recent output cannot be overstated. As a musician himself, he brings a different perspective to her world. Their partnership seems to be built on a shared love for the "cool" and the unconventional. This is reflected in the way she has integrated him into the Bass Persuades era—not as a prop, but as a collaborator in the visual storytelling of her life. The lack of rings in the video, while seemingly a small detail, is a powerful statement. It suggests that for Miley, the "marriage" in the song is a spiritual and creative pact rather than a legal one, fitting for an artist who has spent her entire life breaking out of the boxes people try to put her in.
The rapid turnaround of the album also speaks to a broader trend in the streaming era, where "momentum" is the most valuable currency. By releasing Bass Persuades so soon after Something Beautiful, Miley is keeping her audience in a constant state of engagement. She is not waiting for the "perfect" window; she is creating the window herself. This urgency gives the album a sense of necessity, as if these songs had to be released now or they would lose their relevance to her personal journey.
As fans dive into the full tracklist of Bass Persuades, they will likely find an artist who is more comfortable in her own skin than ever before. The transition to a mononym is the final piece of the puzzle—a declaration of independence from the expectations of the industry and the shadows of her own history. Miley is no longer the "teen idol" or the "rebel" or the "country heiress." She is simply Miley: an artist moving at the speed of sound, guided by the persuasion of the bass and the reality of her own heart.
In the closing lines of her social media reflection, she expressed her gratitude to the team that helped bring this vision to life: “Thank you to everyone who made this album what it is. Love you.” It is a simple sentiment for a complex project, but it underscores the collaborative spirit that has defined this era. From the high-fashion eye of Mert Alas to the gritty punk sensibilities of Model/Actriz and the steady presence of Morando, Bass Persuades is a tapestry of influences woven together by a woman who is finally, and firmly, in control of her own narrative. As the world watches “Let’s Get Married” and listens to the thumping rhythms of her new record, it is clear that Miley’s journey is far from over—it is merely moving into a deeper, more resonant frequency.
