All About Maxx Morando: Drummer & Style Icon
Maxx Morando: From Indie Rock Drummer to Pop Producer
Maxx Morando is a drummer, songwriter, and producer known for playing in the rock bands The Regrettes and Liily. He has also worked with Miley Cyrus on her music. Beyond the studio, he has explored fashion design, making his work part of both music and style conversations.
Morando co-wrote and produced songs on Cyrus’s 2023 album Endless Summer Vacation, including “Handstand.” The two are also a couple and confirmed their engagement in December 2025. This guide looks at his path from punk drumming to pop production, along with the creative work that has brought him wider attention.
Who Is Maxx Morando? Musical Roots and Rise in Alternative Rock
Maxx Morando grew up surrounded by the eclectic, vibrant artistic culture of Los Angeles, California. From an early age, rhythm was his primary language. He first picked up drumsticks at the age of eight, developing a natural affinity for timing, syncopation, and driving backbeats. His technical foundation and love for authentic percussion setups led him to collaborate with specialized gear makers, as showcased in the Maxx Morando drumming profile on C & C Drums USA.
While drums are his home base, Morando is far from a one-trick rhythm maker. He is a full-fledged multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, manipulates analog synthesizers, and experiments with digital programming. In his early years across the Southern California scene, he performed with several underground projects, including Daylight Echo, Peaceful Antalopus, Salmon, The Bonnie Situation, and the indie outfit DAISY. This wide sonic palette gave him the dexterity to navigate garage rock, post-punk, and polished pop production with equal finesse.
Early Drumming and The Regrettes Era
Morando honed his craft through formal training and live performance at the School of Rock in Hollywood. Surrounded by passionate young musicians, he learned the fundamentals of stage presence, tight ensemble play, and live improvisation.
That foundation paved the way for his breakout stint as the drummer for the punk rock band The Regrettes from 2015 to 2018. During this era, he brought raw energy to the group’s 2015 EP and their critically praised 2017 debut full-length album, Feel Your Feelings Fool!.
Touring nationwide with The Regrettes gave Morando a real-world masterclass in touring logistics and analog recording methods. At just 18 years old, he penned an insightful article for Modern Drummer, describing how tracking live to tape taught him to embrace spontaneous takes, stay present behind the kit, and play with authentic conviction.
Breakthrough with Indie Band Liily
Seeking a darker, more experimental sonic direction, Morando co-founded the Los Angeles-based alternative and post-punk revival band Liily in 2018 alongside close collaborators Dylan Nash, Sam Stewart, and Charlie Anastasis. Liily quickly turned heads with their razor-sharp riffs, agitated rhythms, and explosive stage presence, debuting with their single “Toro.”
The band released their ambitious debut studio album, TV or Not TV, in 2021. Across the record, Morando’s drumming serves as the kinetic backbone, shifting effortlessly from jagged art-punk grooves to atmospheric rhythm passages. Liily’s sound demonstrated that Morando was not just keeping time—he was actively arranging dynamics and shaping the narrative texture of the music.
Mainstream Collaborations and Studio Production
Morando’s transition from rock stages to mainstream recording studios showcases his broad creative range. While many musicians stick firmly to one genre lane, Morando realized early on that modern pop benefits immensely from live instrumentation, organic rhythm tracks, and unpolished rock sensibilities.
Maxx Morando as Songwriter and Producer for Miley Cyrus
Morando’s studio footprint expanded significantly through his representation with leading publishers, highlighted in the Maxx Morando publishing catalog at Pulse Music Group. His biggest production spotlight came with Miley Cyrus’s eighth studio album, Endless Summer Vacation (2023).
Morando co-wrote and produced the dynamic track “Handstand,” a synth-driven, spoken-word-infused opener that set a bold sonic tone for the project. He also contributed production work to “Violet Chemistry,” an infectious dance-pop cut that Variety celebrated as one of the standout songs of 2023. The album went on to earn multiple GRAMMY® nominations, cementing Morando’s status as a top-tier contemporary producer.
His studio chemistry with Cyrus continued on her 2025 conceptual record Something Beautiful and her 2026 release Bass Persuades, where Morando contributed foundational production work alongside top industry veterans.
| Project / Track | Year | Role | Genre / Style | Key Milestone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feel Your Feelings Fool! (The Regrettes) | 2017 | Drummer | Punk Rock / Garage Pop | Breakthrough debut LP |
| TV or Not TV (Liily) | 2021 | Drummer, Co-Writer | Post-Punk / Alt-Rock | Critical indie acclaim |
| “Handstand” (Endless Summer Vacation) | 2023 | Co-Writer, Producer | Experimental Synth-Pop | GRAMMY-nominated LP |
| “Violet Chemistry” (Endless Summer Vacation) | 2023 | Producer | Electro-Pop / Dance | Variety Best Songs of 2023 |
| Something Beautiful (Miley Cyrus) | 2025 | Producer | Conceptual Pop / Rock | Major studio release |
| Bass Persuades (Miley Cyrus) | 2026 | Producer | Funk-Pop / Alternative | 10-track studio collaboration |
Visual Compositions and Music Video Projects
Beyond tracking studio albums, Morando has expanded into screen scoring and music video production. His multidisciplinary work is cataloged across his filmography, as detailed on the Maxx Morando credits on IMDb.
In 2025 and 2026, he composed and produced scores for several high-concept visual shorts, including Miley Cyrus: Interlude 1, End of the World, Pretend You’re God, and the visual collaboration featuring Naomi Campbell, Every Girl You’ve Ever Loved.
One of his most notable visual appearances came in the black-and-white music video for “Let’s Get Married,” directed by legendary photographer Mert Alas and filmed on location at West Hollywood’s historic Chateau Marmont. The video captures Morando and Cyrus in romantic, cinematic vignettes, bridging their personal bond with high-fashion visual storytelling.
High-Profile Relationship, Engagement, and Media Presence
Balancing a public persona with creative focus can be tricky in modern entertainment, but Morando has approached high-profile visibility with quiet poise.
Private Romance and Industry Synergy
Morando and Cyrus first connected in late 2021 after being set up on a blind date by mutual industry friends in Los Angeles. As Cyrus playfully noted in a major magazine profile, the date was blind for her, but not entirely blind for him. What began as a casual introduction quickly grew into a deep personal and creative relationship.
Unlike many celebrity pairings, the couple maintained a quiet, low-drama profile, preferring intimate indie concerts and private studio sessions over constant media appearances. Over the years, they stepped out together at select milestone events, including the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards and the 2024 GRAMMY Awards, where Morando supported Cyrus during her major award wins.
Maxx Morando and the 2025 Engagement Timeline
After four years of dating, the couple confirmed their engagement in December 2025 during the world premiere of Avatar: Fire and Ash. Cyrus debuted a stunning engagement ring featuring an earthy, boho-rock design that matched their shared artistic tastes.
The announcement brought warm support from family and friends. Billy Ray Cyrus took to Instagram to share his joy, posting a heartfelt tribute celebrating the couple’s happiness.
During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Cyrus shared a humorous look into their domestic life, joking that one of the reasons she got engaged was to have Morando open packages outside to accommodate her unusual aversion to dry paper and cardboard. As of 2026, the couple is enjoying their engagement without rushing their wedding plans, focusing on mutual recording sessions and artistic collaborations.
Fashion Design and Aesthetic Influence
Morando’s creative output extends naturally into visual aesthetics and wardrobe styling. Embracing the intersection of vintage rock tailoring, streetwear, and DIY punk fashion, he has carved out a recognizable personal style.
His passion for design led to hands-on collaborations with independent fashion creators. Notably, Morando teamed up with designer Shane Kastl to co-create a one-of-a-kind festival wardrobe for Cyrus, illustrating how his visual ideas translate from sketchbook concepts to live performance stages. Morando often incorporates customized denim, retro silhouettes, and upcycled fabrics into his daily wardrobe, treating style as another extension of his rhythm and production work.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Maxx Morando born and how old is he?
Maxx Morando was born on November 16, 1998, in Los Angeles, California. As of 2026, he is 27 years old.
What instruments does Maxx Morando play besides the drums?
While best known as a drummer, Morando is a multi-instrumentalist who plays electric and acoustic guitars, analog synthesizers, and percussion, and regularly handles drum machine programming in the studio.
How did Maxx Morando meet Miley Cyrus?
The couple met in late 2021 after being introduced on a blind date set up by mutual music industry friends in Los Angeles, which soon led to both romantic and studio collaborations.
Conclusion
Maxx Morando represents a modern breed of music creator: an artist who cut his teeth in sweaty DIY rock venues, mastered vintage analog recording techniques, and transitioned into producing chart-topping pop records. His grounded temperament, multi-instrumental versatility, and distinct fashion sense have made him an influential figure behind the scenes and on the red carpet.
At Hudson Valley Wine Magazine, we celebrate craft, authenticity, and creative passion across music, art, and regional culture. If you enjoy discovering stories behind modern tastemakers, explore dynamic culture and lifestyle guides to learn more about the craftsmanship shaping our world today.
