She may have only released her Joyride EP, but Kesha is now gearing up for what could be the most defining release of her career, hinting at a new album released on Kesha Records that she claims features “the best songs, I think, of my entire career”.
In a recent interview with Paper Magazine, the singer opened up about the significance of her upcoming album – her first as an independent artist following her legal battle with Kemosabe Records founder Dr. Luke, whom she accused of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse in 2014.
The producer has consistently denied Kesha’s allegations and sued her for defamation, but the two settled the case before it went to trial last year.
Now, fresh off the release of her Joyride EP on July 4, which included her independently released single of the same name, Kesha is reveling in her newfound creative freedom ahead of another album release. “This is the first album I’m making where I’m 100% in control of everything,” she told Paper. “It feels like it’s my first album.”
“It feels divine; it feels like it stands for a lot. It’s really beautiful, and I cannot wait to share it. It’s maybe the most beautiful time of my entire life! I am so excited I got to work with the people I did and capture this moment in time, and put it onto something other people can listen to.”
“It’s been deeply life-changing and profound to make this album, but it’s also the most fun I’ve ever had in my life. If you thought Animal was fun, just fucking wait.”
The “TiK ToK” hitmaker also drew parallels between her current creative state and the mindset that produced Animal, her 2010 debut that stormed to No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
“This is the first time in my life I’ve felt similarly to how I did in that point in my life, when I was making music from a purely joyful place,” Kesha explained.
“It’s all really 100% me. That feels really good, just to step into my own worth, and my own power and not have anything in my mind or the external world say it’s anything but me. It’s pretty unavoidable that whether people like or hate ‘Joyride,’ it’s all me.”
“Joyride” peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Streaming Songs chart and No. 6 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart.