Having burst onto the music scene 15 years ago with the release of her first hit “TiK ToK,” pop superstar Kesha has experienced the ups and downs and everything in between in her career so far, all while fighting and rising. the obstacles he has faced.
From his decade-long legal war with his former music producer, Dr. Luke, to the recent creation of his own label, Kesha Records, the 37-year-old music artist and business owner is now speaking out about his truths, his new music, as well as reaching mid-level at the highest levels in the world.
Jeff Conway: Kesha, you’ve done a great job with your TED talk.
Kesha: Thank you. I’m so proud of it! I’ve done so many things that I’m very proud of lately and for example, the TED talk is a dream I never imagined I could just dream of achieving, so it goes beyond a dream come true. It’s crazy that a woman who, you know, I went to Columbia University but then because of the demands of the record companies, I dropped out of school and got my GED. So, it’s crazy that a woman with her GED, who hasn’t even technically graduated, is in the International Baccalaureate program. I tried to go to Colombia to study psychology and comparative religion, but, upon request, I dropped out, got my GED, and moved to Los Angeles.
Going back to the music I started with, which was full of irony and went unnoticed by people, I feel that I have been labeled as a party girl and very unintelligent, and that is a stigma that I have tried to fight throughout my career. So the fact that the TED show is being released the same week as my first bachelor [“Joyride”] makes it seem like the world finally has a genuine vision of who I am, which is multifaceted.
Conway: How did the TED Talk get on your radar?
Kesha: Well, I love TED. Vi TED communications and I reached out to them and they said they would love to have me for a communication, which of course caused panic because it’s like the most prestigious communication we can give. I worked on it for six months. I was walking, just communicating with anyone who would listen. I must say that I am really proud of how this turned out. I really feel that performing at the Grammys and doing a TED speech were the two highlights of my life, of my career.
Conway: You also talked about that in your TED talk, Kesha, you said that what motivates you the most is writing pop songs. So how would you say that choosing your career and being the singer-songwriter that you are has brought you the ultimate and fulfillment in your life?
Kesha: Oh my God, I love that question! Well, let me start at the beginning. I started writing songs to control my feelings. I’m a very susceptible user: I’m a triple Pisces, so those feelings come back very intensely and other people can do a lot of things. things with them. If you feel anger, other people may pass by and break the window of a car, but for me, if I feel anger, I take it to the studio and lately I surround myself with many other people who help me take my emotion and alchemize it.
So it’s become my way of living life and the wonderful thing about writing music or creating any art of any kind is that you can live anything, I hope, safely. Once you leave your frame and enter the page or microphone, if you decide to share it, this remedy you enjoy can probably help heal other people. The explanation for why music is on a global scale is because we simply communicate our feelings and humanize us all. You see yourself in a song. You see an emotion that you feel in a song – it’s relational, it’s connective – and for me it’s very spiritual because we’re all one and music is one of the most beautiful ways to feel this. We are all connected to the same human emotion because, in fact, we are all connected.
Conway: So what does it mean to you now to be an independent artist and get the rights to your voice back? Has it replaced the way you browse your paintings and music in the future?
Kesha: It’s crazy that a human being can lose the rights to their recorded voice in the universe in perpetuity. First of all, turning disputes over this is anything that’s on my radar, so if you’re in the interview, if someone reads this: I’d love to sing because it’s unbearable, it’s part of the business of making art. That’s my first idea, and secondly, I have to say that right now I’m excited about building an artist-safe area, because creation and concern can’t coexist. When you’re in a state of worry, you can’t create, and I know this from personal experience.
I’m excited that Kesha Records is growing and developing in any way other people might think, but also in unforeseen ways, as lately I’ve been interested in the tech sector and looking for partners who share the values I stand for. align with. So, in addition to the classic record label model, I also look towards the long term and look for creative, innovative, and cutting-edge tech creators who need to replace the way the music industry works and bring a new level of transparency to the entire company. So, I’m in an interesting area right now.
Kesha her TED talk.
Conway: Also, at the end of your TED talk, Kesha, you sang “Cathedral,” which is such a lovely ballad. I’m curious what the main message you hope listeners take away from your new song?
Kesha: I love this song! I wrote this song the same week I wrote my TED talk and imagined the TED talk, so it’s a special week. I think what I want people to learn from the song “Cathedral” is that you can overcome a lot of things, but it will never leave you. It stops you, and again, I’m very spiritual, so I need to inspire everything in me so that other people can tap into their strength because you are your own savior.
What makes you you gives you the will to be who you are. It is within you, even if you feel it is masked by trauma. It’s still there, so I just need to inspire other people to think about themselves. like a cathedral and treat themselves with all that love, fear, respect and righteous appreciation.
Conway: You also have a great single outing right now. “Joyride” is a very funny song. I’m sure you know it works well: there are tons of streams on Spotify. So what are your emotions and mind in the face of the massive reaction to “Joyride”?
Kesha for her new single “Joyride”
Kesha: I love the ultimate gratitude and happiness. I’m feeling relaxed for the first time since I’m 18 years old and I really appreciate each and every single user who streamed it, and I love the videos that are made. I spent a maximum of 10 years in litigation and millions of dollars in legal fees. I earned this joy with a lot of effort, that’s why I love that other people are willing to “walk happily” with me.
Conway: What does it mean to you to perform live particularly in front of the LGBTQ+ community, who continues to appreciate and value your art and presence on an inclusive level today?
Kesha performs at the OUTLOUD Music Festival at WeHo Pride 2024 on May 31, 2024 in West Hollywood, Array. . [ ] California.
Kesha: Oh my God. Doing presentations is a lot of fun because I get to go there and play with other people who just need to come to play and with the LGBTQ audience. Are you kidding? There would be no pop stars without the Queer chain. Period. A big thing that motivates me in this life is justice and what makes me angry the most are bullies. I need to protect everyone and always fight for the same rights until the day I die. The LGBTQ network just offered me my home, my safe space, so I’ll do everything in my power to fight for the LGBTQ network, but when we’re not fighting, I also need to offer a position that’s actually a laugh to celebrate us.
Conway: How would you say your general mindset has evolved or evolved towards all of this since you debuted with songs like “TiK ToK” and “Your Love Is My Drug”?
Kesha: Well, I definitely saw the disorders; I saw a lot of disorders and many other people came to see me privately, great artists, and they talked to me about the disorders in this business. I think it is clear that there is a problem. I’m running right now, as we speak, to try to locate the other right people in the generation because I have a plan and I’m going to solve this problem.
Conway: So what’s next, Kesha? More music? I love the song “Freedom. ” Is there a name for the album, a date? What can you share with me and your unwavering enthusiasts right now? What can we expect?
Photo of Kesha on her Instagram.
Kesha: Well, thank you and I love “Freedom. ” I hope it arrives soon. “Cathedral” is in the TED talk, like we talked about, and I love that song. I can’t wait for other people to hear the studio edit because it’s crazy! I’d say it rivals “Praying” as my favorite slower song, but this time it’s about me and it feels good.
Conway: Kesha, what would you say to other people in our world today, who have lost or had their own voice taken away from them in one way or another, and who are going to regain the same freedom that you have discovered for yourself?What recommendation or words of encouragement would you share with them, after your hard journey?
Kesha: I would say, first of all, look for an intelligent lawyer; That is the first step. And second step, I just need to tell you that I believe this deserves to be illegal and I will do everything in my power to try to replace the litigation around this. I also paint, you know, like I said, in technology. I started my own record label and I’m coming to replace the world, baby, so wait, keep writing songs. It’s fucked up that in this country you can lose the right to your voice but you will never lose the right to your deed and the fact will set you free. I am working very hard to replace everything I can in this world, so that this will never happen to anyone again.
Conway: Kesha, what do you need to say to your very vocal and passionate fans, to the other people who have helped you through the ups and downs and who continue to appreciate and appreciate your music, every time you decide to participate?a new song?
Kesha performs with Reneé Rapp at the Outdoor Theater the Coachella Valley Music andArray. [+] Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club on April 14, 2024 in Indio, California.
Kesha: I just need to say that I’m not sure I would have survived the last 10 years of my life without the other people who stood by me and supported me. Mostly, I was thinking about it last night: I was in bed thinking about it. There have been ups and downs, but there have been many difficult moments and that joy in “Joyride”; It has been very long and difficult for all of us. So I just need to say thank you and I appreciate my animals and my coming animals and my newfound animals and my first day animals. I really appreciate one and both and both of them and when I stay up at night, I scroll through my fake Instagram. and stalk you, so it’s cute and I keep scrolling through the videos because I’m obsessed with the videos you make. Making “Joyride”. They bring me a lot of joy: I sit in bed and enjoy “MDR” all night.
Conway: Finally, Kesha, if you could go back to the Kesha that had just emerged in music with “TiK ToK” and give her some advice, a warning, or a message of comfort, after everything has been done and accomplished. Until now, what would happen? You say to this Kesha from 2009, if only you could?
Kesha: I wish I could give her a big hug and say, Look, it’s going to be hard, but you’re going to get there and then you’re going to replace the global through this.
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