Miley Cyrus Talks “Sick” New Album, Reveals Motown Influence

Miley Cyrus has a knack for grabbing headlines, whether the attention is due to her thoroughly badass Robyn-esque haircut or her work in the studio with some unexpected collaborators. In fact, when Cyrus appeared as a presenter at the iHeart Radio festival in Las Vegas over the weekend, she talked about how cool her hair looks for several hours. Oh, just kidding — she talked about her upcoming album.

The important thing to note? Fans can expect a single as early as November. “I’ve got songs right now I feel like could potentially be singles, [but] it’s been two years that I haven’t said anything, and I want that to be the right thing we say,” Cyrus explained to Rolling Stone. And what will the music will sound like, you ask? Cyrus was clear on one thing: “I wanna make a sick record,” she told Billboard. While more specificity could have served in her favor here, “sick” sounds good to us. Miley, you have our full attention. Read on for more details.

Cyrus told Billboard that she’s been continuing her work with Pharrell Williams of The Neptunes, as well as hip-hop duo Da Internz, who helmed Rihanna‘s “Birthday Cake.” Rather than rushing out a single, she explained that she’s taking her time to fine-tune the album’s sound.

“I’ve never really had time to do that, to kind of have my record kind of ‘done’ and then sit there and make it until it’s perfect,” she explained. “So, it’s been really, really fun. This whole year that’s all I’ve really dedicated life to.”

One unexpected influence that may find its way onto the album is Motown-style soul, which Miley found herself hooked on while she was in Louisiana with fiance Liam Hemsworth. “My boyfriend was filming a movie in New Orleans, so I got into the older Motown sound vibe, which is really fun to mix with this country-pop sound. I listened to a lot of Irma Thomas and tried to get that old soul into it, too,” Cyrus noted.

Soul influences plus Pharrell production? We’re in.

Are you excited to hear Miley’s new sound? Tell us in the comments, or sound off on Facebook and Twitter.