The pop star said the current political climate has her looking at ways to create “real change” by being open to opposing viewpoints.
“This is crazy, but I haven’ t smoked weed in three weeks!” Cyrus told Billboard in a wide-ranging interview for the magazine’s May cover story.
“I like to surround myself with people that make me want to get better, more evolved, open, ” she says. “And I was noticing, it’s not the people that are stoned. I want to be super clear and sharp, because I know exactly where I want to be.”
Now 24, the “Wrecking Ball” singer says she is out of her “ Dead Petz phase, ” a reference to her 2015 album, Miley Cyrus and Her Dead Petz, for which Cyrus toured and sang on stage while wearing a unicorn outfit and a fake penis.
On her new album, Cyrus dedicates one song to Hillary Clinton — whom she went door-to-door for during the election — and recorded another for women in the workplace.
The Grammy-nominated singer, who initially supported Senator Bernie Sanders for president, has also apparently evolved politically, and says was inspired by her successful stint as co-host on NBC’s The Voice to reach beyond her close circle of “outspoken liberals.”
“I like talking to people that don’ t agree with me, but I don’ t think I can do that in an aggressive way, ” Cyrus says. “I don’ t think those people are going to listen to me when I’ m sitting there in nipple pasties, you know?”
“I have to ask myself, ‘How am I going to create real change?’” Cyrus says, “and not just f*cking preach to the choir anymore.”
“This record is a reflection of the fact that yes, I don’ t give a f*ck, but right now is not a time to not give a f*ck about people, ” she said about connecting with people who have different political views. “I’ m giving the world a hug and saying, ‘Hey, look. We’ re good — I love you.’ And I hope you can say you love me back.”
After the election, Cyrus posted an emotional video message to Facebook congratulating Donald Trump on his unprecedented victory over Clinton.
“Donald Trump, I accept you, ” she said, “and this hurts to say, but I even accept you as the president of the United States, and that’s fine … because I think now I want to be hopeful.”
Cyrus’s new album, which is currently untitled, is due out later this year. On May 11, her fans can listen to “Malibu, ” the first single from her latest 10-track effort.
Follow Jerome Hudson on Twitter: @jeromeehudson
