Miley Cyrus Just Shocked Everyone With Her New Era — Fans Can’t Stop Talking

Miley Cyrus wants everyone to get off their phones and onto the dance floor.

The Grammy Award-winning singer released “Bass Persuades” on Thursday, Sept. 3, the first single from her upcoming 10th studio album of the same name. The song arrives with a music video directed by Cyrus’ longtime collaborator, Mert Alas.

For her upcoming album, Cyrus is going by just Miley, leaving her last name behind for this new chapter.

“Bass Persuades” pairs ‘80s-inspired synths with a dance-pop beat as Cyrus addresses the distractions of phones, screens and modern life. The song urges listeners to put down their devices, step away from the chaos and dance.

“The kids don’t want to dance” serves as the song’s central refrain, before Cyrus urges them to “surrender to the night.”

Elsewhere, she sings about being “glued” to a phone screen and references missing the hit without MTV, giving the track a nostalgic streak while keeping its focus on the distractions of the present.

The song’s invitation to dance becomes even more literal in the music video.

The video opens with Cyrus wearing a leather hat, black bralette and matching black slacks. She later changes into a black bralette, high-waisted black underwear, stockings and heels, adding a leather jacket and black leather gloves at various points.

Cyrus dances alongside backup dancers throughout, with the choreography growing in scale as the video progresses. By the end, she has taken the party into the city streets, where a crowd of dancers follows her lead.

It’s an appropriate introduction to an album whose title, Cyrus has said, is about the power music can have over us.

“Music takes hold of us. We feel it, sing it, sometimes dance to it, let it out and carry on. It is powerful, vulnerable, sweet and strong,” Cyrus wrote on Instagram when she announced the album Sept. 1. “Heart full, heartache, every part of life in between. That’s what the title means to me. Thank you for being a part of making my wildest dreams come true. I sincerely hope you love this album. ❤️ Miley.”

The album follows Cyrus’ 2025 record Something Beautiful, but she had been hinting at what was coming before formally announcing Bass Persuades. On Aug. 30, she shared red-tinted photos of herself on Instagram. Two days later, she posted a black-and-white video of herself playing electric guitar to a rock beat.

The 33-year-old also offered a glimpse into the emotional territory of the new record during a July interview with Daryl Hannah for Wonderland. She described the album as a love story, while emphasizing that the story is not a simple one.

“This album is a love story, but love stories are never one-dimensional. They’re always layered. There is definitely a romantic thread weaving through it because, like all my records, it’s a reflection of where I am in my life,” she said.

Cyrus, who is engaged to musician Maxx Morando, said the album feels especially meaningful because a sense of peaceful love has followed her through multiple eras.

“That’s something I hadn’t really experienced before,” she said. “A peaceful kind of love has become a theme across my last three records… That’s probably been the biggest evolution. Once your relationship with yourself changes, every relationship around you changes too. I think this record celebrates both of those equally.”

The new era also arrives as Cyrus continues to honor the influence of her godmother Dolly Parton, whose recent death was acknowledged in the album’s announcement. The album’s press release described Parton as a “profound influence” on Cyrus and said her impact extended far beyond music throughout the singer’s life and career.

After years of performing at various events and specials, Cyrus is getting ready to return to a stage of her own.

She will perform two shows at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on Oct. 16 and Oct. 18, with special guest MODEL/ACTRIZ. The concerts will be her first major performances since her appearance at the Corona Capital music festival in Mexico City in November 2022.

“It’s been a while. The Hollywood Bowl is my favorite place to experience music and see my favorite artists,” Cyrus wrote on Instagram. “I’ve sat in those seats many times, but I’ve never taken the stage. LA is my heart and I’m bringing it home. See you there. ❤️ Miley.”

For fans hoping to see the new era in person, tickets will begin with an American Express presale on Sept. 8 at 10 a.m. PST, followed by Cyrus’ artist presale on Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. PST. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general sale on Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. PST.

Eligible Spotify Premium top fans will also have access to a Reserved by Spotify presale, according to the release.

The album is due Sept. 18 through Atlantic Records and is available to pre-order and pre-save. A Neon Version vinyl featuring an exclusive cover is also available to pre-order through Cyrus’ webstore, according to the release.

Cyrus’ latest chapter comes with plenty of Grammy hardware behind it. She won Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance at the 2024 Grammy Awards for “Flowers,” followed by the 2025 Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance with Beyoncé.