Kesha
Since Kesha was released from her contract with Dr. Luke’s Kemosabe Records in late 2023, the hit-making pop singer has been hard at work carving out her own place in the music industry. She fittingly released “Joyride,” her first single through her Kesha Records label, on Independence Day last year, and today, a year later, she’s risen like a phoenix with Period, her first album as a free artist.
Period’s release was preceded earlier this year with the singles “Delusional,” “Yippee-Ki-Yay,” and “Boy Crazy.” While the fun-loving Kesha that fans came to know and love a decade and a half ago is present on the party-ready tracks on the album, she also takes time to look inward and reflect on her emotions, similar to her 2017 album Rainbow and 2020 album High Road, on songs like “Too Hard,” “Cathedral,” and the aptly titled “Freedom.”
Unsurprisingly, the album came about almost immediately after Kesha gained her artistic and contractual freedom.
“The second I got out of that deal, I was writing three songs a day, like a madwoman. I’ve never written so many songs in my life. I’ve never felt so alive, inspired, happy, and excited about the future. Because it’s my first album where I’m in control of every word. Every song, every sound, the cover, the singles—everything,” she told Vogue of the project. “I’ve gotten really comfortable in trusting my own intuition and following my inner compass.”
When making Period, then, Kesha aimed to create the biggest middle finger possible.
“I wanted it to be the ultimate f**k-you album of all time,” she stated plainly. “I listen to my new record when I need that strength to be my own watchdog. I’m really protective of my time, space, and energy now. Anything that has kept me from feeling free, I’m very cutthroat about that. Anything that is keeping me from being in my fullest potential, it’s gone. Even if it’s an internalized voice that’s keeping me from my true freedom, it’s got to go. I really wanted to make a triumphant soundtrack for those moments.”
The Tits Out Tour in support of the album wraps up March 21 in Dublin.