Miley Cyrus didn’t look to fantasy or sci-fi for her new Avatar song and drew inspiration from real life instead. Her track “Dream as One,” featured in Avatar: Fire and Ash, comes from loss, healing, and community. It reflects rebuilding after wildfires and the power of standing together when times feel unsure.
Miley Cyrus on what inspired the Avatar: Fire and Ash song “Dream as One”
Cyrus said the heart of “Dream as One” draws from her own life. She lost her Malibu house in the 2018 wildfires. Now 33, the Grammy winner has rebuilt it. She reflected that the journey taught her what it really means to start over. That feeling shaped the song. The track plays during the closing credits of Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third film in James Cameron’s franchise. Cyrus added that the lyrics focus on unity and survival, and not destruction.
Recent events in Los Angeles further shaped the message. Cyrus pointed to the January 2025 wildfires that hit communities like Pacific Palisades and Altadena, saying they reinforced the importance of showing up for others. She noted that people stepped in not just for relatives, but also for friends and “chosen family.”
Cyrus shared how losing her home changed her perspective. At a May screening of her visual album Something Beautiful, she called the loss a blessing in her life. She said those hard times taught her to see challenges as opportunities for growth and clarity. This same perspective reflects the heart of Avatar: Fire and Ash. “When my house burned down, that was the biggest blessing I’ve ever had in my life, actually, she said (via People). Cyrus added, “I think what I would have told my younger self is to appreciate those darker times because, like I said, they are only leading you into the light.”
She recently said (via People), “In the title alone, Fire and Ash, I’ve had my own experience with rebuilding from the ground up.” Cyrus added, “I felt after we experienced the fires this year.” She continued, “Lately we’ve all had this idea of being there for each other and stepping in when your people need it.”
Miley Cyrus also explained that her usual songwriting process is the opposite of what she did for this project. She normally writes a song first and then works on visuals. However, for Avatar: Fire and Ash, she got to see the film early, even in a “work-in-progress stage.” This helped her feel more involved in the movie and allowed her to shape her music and lyrics around the film’s themes.
Originally reported by Rishabh Shandilya for ComingSoon.
