Noah Cyrus doing just fine
Singer-actor from the famous family makes her own mark with EP, new tour
With the release of the Good Cry EP, Noah Cyrus pitches into the pop charts after a lifetime of preparation for the big time entertainment business. Singing and acting is kind of a thing for the children of Billy Ray and Leticia Jean Cyrus.
At age two, she was in front of the camera playing in her father Billy Ray Cyrus’ TV series Doc. In 2008, she voiced the lead character in the English-language release of brilliant Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki’s film Ponyo.
Her first serious foray into the music world was the Lab ir in th produced 2016 single Makes Me (Cry). It was nominated for a Radio Disney Music Award for Best Breakup Song.
Yes, there is such an award. Among the past nominees are Justin Bieber (Sorry), Selena Gomez featuring Charlie Puth (We Don’t Talk Anymore) and past winner Little Mix (Shout Out to My Ex).
Perhaps titling her debut EP Good Cry was a means of positioning the younger Cyrus sister as a heartbreak balladeer in contrast to Miley’s suggestive song stylings. The 18-year-old took time from her busy headlining tour schedule to discuss her art, fast-breaking news such as her landlord texting her about something funny that she just saw on the singer’s Instagram feed and a nasty bout of laryngitis that lead to a show cancellation.
She had nothing to say about the microscopic social media dismantling of her breakup with artist Lil Xan. Having one’s personal life go viral is part and parcel of being a celebrity today. Watching a teenager’s dating habits be deconstructed by major media outlets seemed, frankly, a bit off.
“It’s what happens when you choose to be in a public relationship in the present day in this line of work,” she said. “But it’s good it’s over and everything is moving along fine.”
Q The trajectory of your career seems to have a lot to do with crying and tears. Why so glum chum?
A I’ve always been like this, how I see things. But previously, I was involved in music that I was a lot less passionate about. The Good Cry is a project that I feel very deeply about, and it’s exciting.
Q The six songs on Good Cry include a range of collaborators and producers presenting your voice in a number of different ways. Overall, you seem really comfortable in the EDM milieu.
A I think it’s fun to collab with EDM producers and be a part of that world, because I like it. But I love working with all sorts, with records ranging from one with Alan Walker to Marshmello or Jake Bugg. If I’m feeling it, passionate about it, then I’m into it.
Q OK, so there is this thing, a kind of drop down to a deeper note vibrato that your dad, your brother Trace, your sister Miley and you all have in your singing voices that is really cool. What is that?
A I definitely think that there is a thing, and we all would probably say that it came from Pappy, our grandfather, who sang in a barbershop quartet and was a huge influence on all of us, from my dad on down to the kids. Too bad I didn’t get more time with him than I did, but the six years we had together really had a lot to do with my music, and he was a big inspiration.
Q One of the challenges of going on the road to headline a first tour is having enough material. I see that you have been adding in some pretty contemporary covers ranging from BØRNS’ Electric Love to Lady Gaga’s Million Reasons and Portugal the Man. How do you pick them?
A Portugal the Man’s Feel it Still was one of my favourite songs on the radio at the time I was covering it. Now I’m doing things like M.I.A.’s Paper Planes and others. There are so many excellent songs out there that you sometimes just go f--- it! I didn’t write it, but I want to sing it.
Q Have you ever considered going out on the road as the Cyrus equivalent of the Carter Family or the Judds?
A I think that would turn into a family fist fight, kidding, because we used to load everyone into the car for trips and they would wind up as they do. Actually, it might be fun, but I’ve got some other ideas. So far, the best show setup I’ve seen to date was Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys) at the Hollywood Bowl; stay tuned.