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FEATURE MUSIC

BEAUTIFUL & BROKEN

HELLO DOLLY Fun fact: Miley’s godmother is country legend

Dolly Parton. The singer treasures a fax that Dolly sent her. It says: “How much do I love you? As much as my heart can hold and as far as my arms can reach.”

Miley Cyrus says her ninth album is all about healing.

Miley Cyrus

W hen Ian Moss supported Eric Clapton at the Hunter Valley’s Hope Estate, Clapton sat side of stage, closely observing Mossy’s set. When he walked off stage, Slowhand stood and applauded. “He’s about as shy as me, so it was a funny conversation,” Mossy smiles. “But it was great to meet him.” Mossy’s peers know how great he is. A decade ago, local musicians ranked him Australia’s greatest guitarist in a newspaper poll. As Kingswood’s Alex Laska noted, “Mossy can deliver subtlety with intensity, intensity with subtlety.” The new live album shows that Mossy’s voice is still a thing of beauty, while his guitar work remains instinctive and inventive. So, how has he survived more than five decades in the music business? “I love my red wine, but I haven’t abused it,” he says. “And I think the key to good mental health is exercise. Not that I’m a fanatic. I hate starting [exercise], but once you finish, it feels great.” Jeff Jenkins The 13-track album is accompanied by Miley’s own movie, which she calls “a one-of-a-kind pop opera... a unique visual experience fuelled by fantasy”. Jeff Jenkins MOSSY GOD Live at Anitas by Ian Moss is out May 2 via Universal The great Ian Moss releases a superb live album. TO THE MAXX M iley Cyrus had the big screen on her mind when she made her new album, Something Beautiful . She says the record was inspired by two movies – the 1982 film version of Pink Floyd’s The Wall, and the 2018 horror flick Mandy , starring Nicolas Cage. Indeed, the singer loved that movie so much, she named one of her dogs Mandy. “It’s a concept album that’s an attempt to medicate somewhat of a sick culture through music,” Miley explained to fashion mag Harper’s Bazaar . The album’s first official single is called End of the World . “It was important for me that every song has these healing sound properties. The songs, whether they’re about destruction or heartbreak or death, they’re presented in a way that is beautiful, because the nastiest times of our life do have a point of beauty. They are the shadow, they are the charcoal, they are the shading. You can’t have a painting without highlights and contrast.” Something Beautiful by Miley Cyrus is out May 30 via Sony LIVE! Mossy’s new live album was recorded at Anita’s Theatre in Thirroul. As well as the solo gems Tucker’s Daughter , Telephone Booth, and Out of the Fire , he revisits some Chisel classics including Bow River , Choir Girl, and Flame Trees .

CHART FACT

Miley has had three number one albums in

Australia – 2008’s Breakout , 2013’s Bangerz, and 2023’s Endless Summer Vacation . And she’s had ten Top 10 singles, including the 2023 chart topper Flowers .

Miley’s boyfriend, Maxx Morando, co-wrote and co-produced the title track of Something Beautiful . “I’ve always worked with the people that I love,” Miley says. “And Maxx just inspires me so much.” He was the drummer in LA punk band The Regrettes.

Ian Moss

THE NAME GAME Not many people call him Ian. He was first called Mossy when he was growing up in Alice Springs, and he’s fine with that. “I find it wonderfully affectionate.”

GUITAR GREAT

So who’s Mossy’s favourite guitarist? “Jeff Beck. There was a weight to his playing. And incredible creativity. Sure, guys can shred all day, but you can listen to all of them and not recognise any of them. But with Jeff Beck, you hear two notes and you go, ‘That’s Jeff Beck.’”

Photo credit: Daniel Boud

BARNESY ON MOSSY Jimmy Barnes was a fan as soon as he met Mossy. “I could tell he was gentle and sensitive, but when he did look at you, his eyes seemed to look deep inside you, searching, looking for something... Mossy was always on another planet, but we loved him.”

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