Miley Cyrus Enters Her Pop Opera Era with Something Beautiful

By Britne Goldstein

I’ve been a Miley Cyrus fan since her Hannah Montana days, and it’s been incredible watching her grow and evolve through so many different styles over the years—from country roots to Bangerz boldness, rock ‘n’ roll reinvention to Grammy-winning pop.

Now, with the announcement of her new album Something Beautiful, set to release May 30th, it feels like we’re entering an entirely new chapter. It’s a visual album in the “pop opera” style—something Miley hasn’t done before—and from what we’ve seen so far, it looks like it’ll be one of her most creative projects yet.

Posters promoting the album have been spotted in major cities, giving fans just a hint of what’s coming. The project is already being hailed as her most ambitious to date: a full-fledged visual album in the “pop opera” genre. In a recent Harper’s Bazaar cover story, Miley said, “The visual component of this is driving the sound,” making it clear that the visuals are a big part of the storytelling.

We’ve already gotten a taste of what’s to come with the release of the lead single, “End of the World,” a haunting, cinematic ballad paired with a visually stunning music video. The song feels emotional and cinematic, setting the tone for what’s to come. Miley called the album “a concept album that’s an attempt to medicate somewhat of a sick culture through music.” It sounds like she’s aiming to say something bigger with this one.

Adding another personal layer to the project, Cyrus’s longtime boyfriend Maxx Morando co-produced several tracks on the album and even helped co-write the title track, “Something Beautiful.”

Their creative chemistry makes the whole thing feel even more emotional and personal. If this is the end of the world, Miley Cyrus is making it sound—and look—stunning.