Miley Cyrus

If you listen to Miley Cyrus today, you notice her sound isn’t static. It starts with a voice that oscillates between sweetness and raspiness, as if she changes masks with every song. In Endless Summer Vacation (2023), for example, the track Flowers sounds like a pop anthem brimming with fresh air: the acoustic guitar blends with a pulsating bass and drums that hit exactly where they should, without unnecessary adornments. But it wasn’t always like this. Earlier, in Bangerz (2013), trap and R&B gave her image an unexpected twist, with electronic beats intertwining with lyrics about freedom and self-discovery. The curious thing is that, no matter the style, there’s always something that returns: that mix of rawness and melody that makes her songs sound truthful, as if each note carried part of her story.

The moment everything changed for her wasn’t a single hit but a reinvention. After years as a teenage idol thanks to Hannah Montana (2006–2011), she decided to leave behind Disney’s sparkle and seek a sound that was truly hers. In 2013, Bangerz introduced her as an artist who didn’t ask for permission: she collaborated with Flo Rida on We Can't Stop and recorded Wrecking Ball in one take, with a broken voice and no filters. She wasn’t the same girl who sang in the TV series. That album sold millions and gave her her first number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100, but more importantly, it returned control over her career to her.