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After years of legal battles and contractual obligations, pop star Kesha is embracing her newfound creative freedom. During a recent appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, the 38-year-old singer shared her excitement about launching Kesha Records and her upcoming projects.
"It feels so f--king good to be a free woman," Kesha told Clarkson, reflecting on her journey to independence after fulfilling her contractual obligations to RCA Records and Kemosabe. The two artists connected over their shared experiences of breaking away from traditional record labels to create their own paths in the music industry.
The "TiK ToK" singer revealed that her first release on her independent label will be a new album titled "." (Period), scheduled for release on July 4. The 11-track album represents a significant milestone in Kesha's career as her first fully independent work.
Beyond her own music, Kesha shared ambitious plans for her label's future. "I really want to make a new landscape of what the music business can feel like for artists. I think it's important," she explained during the interview. This vision includes signing other artists and creating more artist-friendly business models.
Interestingly, the label's second release will feature music from Kesha's mother, Nashville songwriter Pebe Sebert. "It's so sick," Kesha described the previously unreleased 1980s album, comparing it to the sounds of "Kate Bush, Talking Heads, Cyndi Lauper." Sebert, who co-wrote Dolly Parton's 1980 hit "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You," along with several of Kesha's songs, was present in the studio audience.
"She taught me how to write songs," Kesha acknowledged, pointing to her mother's influence on her career. Clarkson remarked on their unique relationship, saying, "People go to therapy as mother and daughter to talk to each other, and y'all are like writing together."
The singer also revealed plans for a new app designed to connect musicians for collaboration without restrictive contracts. "There are no contracts, there's no owning of anyone in perpetuity in the universe, that doesn't exist on this app," she stated, perhaps alluding to her own experience with restrictive industry practices.
Kesha's journey to independence follows a highly publicized legal battle with producer Dr. Luke that began in 2014. After fulfilling her contractual obligations with her 2020 album "High Road" and 2023's "Gag Order," she gained the freedom to establish her own label.
To support her new album, Kesha will embark on the "T-ts Out Tour" this summer, featuring Scissor Sisters, Slayyyter, and Rose Gray. The tour kicks off on July 1 in West Valley City, Utah.
For Kesha, this new chapter represents not just personal freedom but an opportunity to reshape the music industry landscape for future artists. As she told Clarkson, she's determined to create a more collaborative, empowering environment where artists maintain control of their creative futures.
