Introduction: Why Miley Cyrus's "Bass Persuades" Is the Album Everyone Is Talking About
Have you ever put on a new album expecting one thing and gotten something completely different? That is exactly what happened when Miley Cyrus released her 10th studio album, "Bass Persuades," on September 18, 2026, through Atlantic Records.
This is not a small update. It is her first album released under just one name, Miley, without the last name Cyrus. It is also her first full album since 2025's "Something Beautiful." With surprise collaborators, a genre-jumping tracklist, and lyrics that fans are already picking apart, there is a lot to unpack.
In this guide, you will learn:
- What the album is about and why Miley dropped her last name for it
- A track-by-track breakdown of the standout songs
- Who actually worked on the record, from producers to guest vocalists
- What critics are saying right after release
- Where to stream it and how to catch Miley perform it live
Let's get into it.

What Is "Bass Persuades" and Why Did Miley Drop Her Last Name?
Miley Cyrus has built her whole career on reinvention. She went from "Can't Be Tamed" to the wild Bangerz era, then surprised everyone in 2025 with "Something Beautiful," a quieter, indie-rock style concept album. "Bass Persuades" is her next left turn, and this time the change starts with her name.
Going by just "Miley" is what is called using a mononym (using only one name, the way artists like Adele or Beyoncé do). According to Pitchfork, this rebrand casts her as a "club kid-cum-hopeless romantic," someone who spends her nights both dancing and pining for love. That mix shows up directly in the tracklist, where a straightforward love song like "Let's Get Married" sits right next to a much darker, edgier track like "Different Religion."
In a statement posted to Instagram around the release, Cyrus said the album "happened fast," but added that fast has basically been her whole career for 20 years. She described the record as a reflection of everywhere she has been, along with the peace that came from slowing down. That framing matters, because it helps explain why "Bass Persuades" jumps between so many different moods and sounds instead of sticking to one lane.
Bass Persuades Track-by-Track: The Songs Fans Are Talking About
"Bass Persuades" has 10 tracks total. Based on the official credits and early reviews, here is what we know about the songs getting the most attention so far.
- "Bass Persuades" (title track): This opens the album and doubles as the lead single, but Rolling Stone called it a "true first-single fakeout." The song leans on the tired-sounding line "the kids don't wanna dance," which actually turned some fans off at first. Reviewers say that reaction is misleading, because the rest of the album is much sharper and more energetic than this opening track suggests.
- "Different Religion" (featuring Model/Actriz): Widely called the highlight of the record. Rolling Stone describes it as sounding like a 2002-style electroclash track (a genre that mixes electronic music with punk-style attitude), opening like a heavy rock riff before sliding into a glammy, new-wave sound. Model/Actriz add distorted, robotic vocal parts, and Cyrus sings bold, almost preachy lines about having "my own god."
- "Let's Get Married": A more traditional love song that balances out the album's edgier moments. It represents the "hopeless romantic" side of the new Miley persona.
- "Orbit": This track pulls listeners back to her 2015 space-rock album "Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz," a psychedelic project she made with the Flaming Lips. "Orbit" uses dreamy, Pink Floyd-style synthesizers, but Cyrus sings over them with a country-tinged voice, which reviewers say makes the whole thing feel even trippier.
- "Aftermath": Features additional vocals from Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips, tying back to that same "Dead Petz" psychedelic thread.
The album's second half (tracks 6 through 10) had not been broken down in detail in early coverage as of this writing, so it is worth checking streaming platforms directly for the complete listening experience.

Who Produced and Wrote Bass Persuades? Full List of Key Collaborators
One of the biggest surprises around this release is just how many different people touched it. If you are not familiar with album credits, a quick translation: the producer shapes the overall sound of a song, the composer or lyricist writes the music and words, and the engineer and mixer handle the technical work of recording and balancing the sound.
Here are the names that show up again and again across "Bass Persuades":
- Kid Harpoon: A frequent Cyrus collaborator who produces, plays guitar and bass, and even sings background vocals on multiple tracks.
- Maxx Morando: Cyrus's fiancé, who works as a producer and guitarist on several songs, including the title track.
- Model/Actriz: Known as a Brooklyn noise rock band (a genre built on harsh, distorted guitar sounds), they provide featured vocals from frontman Cole Haden on "Different Religion" and contribute instrumental parts to other tracks as well.
- Andrew Wyatt of Miike Snow: Listed among the album's key contributors in Pitchfork's official credits report.
- Wayne Coyne: The Flaming Lips frontman who adds vocals to "Aftermath," continuing his long musical relationship with Cyrus.
- Michael Pollack, Gregory Aldae Hein, Monsterz & Strangerz, and Griff Clawson: A rotating group of songwriters and producers who help fill out different tracks with keyboards, synthesizers, and additional production.
This mix is part of why the album sounds so different from song to song. A noise rock band and a Flaming Lips singer do not usually end up on the same pop record, which is exactly the kind of surprise Cyrus seems to be going for.
What Are Critics Saying About Bass Persuades?
Early reviews are largely positive, and Pitchfork included "Bass Persuades" in its roundup of the best new albums to check out during the week of September 18, 2026, alongside releases from Carly Rae Jepsen and Empress Of.
Rolling Stone's team published a "seven takeaways" style review right after release, and their reaction centers on how unpredictable the album feels. They praised "Different Religion" as an album highlight and specifically called out Cyrus's chemistry with Model/Actriz, noting that the band's members show up as instrumental contributors on several other songs too. They also enjoyed "Orbit" for reviving the spacey, experimental feel of her 2015 "Dead Petz" project.
One recurring theme in the reviews is that the lead single undersold the record. Because "Bass Persuades" the song leans into a slower, more defeated mood, some fans reportedly worried the full album would follow the same energy. Critics who have heard the whole thing say that worry does not hold up, and that the record is sharper and more varied than the opening track implies.
How and Where to Listen to Bass Persuades (Plus Tour Dates)
"Bass Persuades" is available now on major streaming platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, and Amazon Music, as of September 2026.
If you want to see these songs live, Cyrus has announced two shows at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in October 2026, with dates reported as October 16 and October 18. Ticket availability and pricing can change quickly for shows like this, so check the venue's official site or your preferred ticketing platform for the most current information before making plans.

Conclusion: Should You Listen to Bass Persuades?
"Bass Persuades" is not a record that sits still. It moves from tender love songs to industrial-sounding noise rock, then drifts off into psychedelic space-rock territory, all within 10 tracks. That range is exactly what critics are responding to, and it fits the bigger story of an artist who has spent two decades refusing to make the same album twice.
If the lead single left you unsure, give the rest of the record a real chance. Based on early reactions, "Bass Persuades" rewards listeners who stick around past the first song.
This article is for general information only and is not investment, financial, or purchasing advice. Prices, specs and availability change often, so check with the seller or manufacturer before you buy. Any decision and its outcome are your own responsibility.
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