Kesha is ready to turn the page and embrace a new chapter in her life, and she’s not holding back. In a recent interview with Elle, the “Joyride” singer opened up about her journey post-legal dispute, her newfound independence, and her mission to transform the music industry. With a fierce determination to reclaim her joy and power, Kesha is ready to make waves—both personally and professionally.
“I’m free and it feels good,” Kesha shared, reflecting on the release of her first album since settling her lawsuit with Dr. Luke in June 2023. “I have a reminder in my phone that says: ‘You’re free.’ This record is my little wild child.”
Her latest work stands in stark contrast to her previous album, Gag Order, which dealt with painful emotions and vulnerability. Now, she’s focusing on empowerment, giving space to the more fierce side of herself. “I’m really trying to make way for the bad b**ch. I’m giving her the moment—because we need the space to have all the emotions safely.”
Kesha’s experiences have shaped her outlook on life, especially the notion that joy can be hard to come by. “You know the Buddhist saying that life is pain? I found that to be very true in my life,” she admitted. Despite being known as a fun-loving personality, she’s had her fair share of challenges. “My soul needs this album. I need to reclaim my joy. Because I fought so f**king long and hard for it.”
Kesha’s journey of reclaiming her joy is powerfully expressed in her single “Joyride,” which she describes as an act of defiance. “I really think that my joy is such a feminist act of defiance,” she said. “To everyone that has supported me, and to anyone who’s a survivor out there, know that the energy of support toward me also flows through me to them.”
The track serves as a celebration of life after hardship, a way of saying, “It’s time to party again!” Kesha revealed, “We’re going to start with having fun, and then I’m going to try to dismantle all the shady s**t.”
Along with her legal dispute, Kesha’s personal life has also undergone significant changes. She reflected on a past relationship that didn’t quite pan out. “I had a feeling that he was in it for the wrong reasons and was a bit of a starf**ker,” she recalled. To test her theory, she invited a friend instead of her then-partner to Taylor Swift’s party. The next day, he broke up with her.
Despite the breakup, Kesha hasn’t lost her belief in love but is now focused on treating herself with the respect she deserves. “I’m only going to enter into a partnership again if someone treats me as good as I treat myself.”
Kesha’s journey has taught her the importance of self-love. “I kept hearing people say, ‘I’m looking for The One.’ I kept waiting for somebody else to fill that space, and then I just stepped into it myself,” she explained. “You gotta be all those things to yourself—your own boyfriend, sugar daddy, rich husband, best friend, cheerleader.”
She’s not kidding about treating herself well, either. “I started taking myself on vacations, buying myself six dozen roses, and taking myself for shopping sprees at Saint Laurent,” she said with pride. “I take myself on f**king really bougie dates.”
It was during one of these moments of self-celebration that the idea for “Joyride” began to take shape. “I was like, God, I am The One, though.”
In addition to reclaiming her personal power, Kesha is taking control of her career like never before. She recently founded her own label, Kesha Records, and is making it her mission to change the way the music industry operates.
“I am just 100 percent in complete control of everything now,” she said, proudly owning her role as a music mogul. “It’s exciting to be represented the way I want to be: ideating the song, writing the song, singing the song, coproducing the song, marketing the song, designing what I’m wearing for the song.”
Kesha is determined to bring transparency to an industry she feels has long been shrouded in secrecy. “I don’t believe in ownership in perpetuity of anyone, anything, on any level, in any business. That should not be something a human being can commit to.”
With a bold 10-year plan to change the game, Kesha is sending a clear message to the industry: watch out. “The music industry should be f**king terrified of me,” she said. “I really want to dismantle it piece by piece and shine light into every corner.”
Kesha’s legacy, she hopes, will be one of transformation and empowerment. “I don’t believe you can create if you’re not feeling safe,” she concluded. “The old guard, they’re falling…you better f**king run.”
