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“This joy is hard won for me so I’m so happy that you all are ready to ‘Joyride’ with me,” Kesha said.
Kesha “Joyride” is her first single since her debut as an independent artist. Dr. LukeKemosabe Records and RCA.
talk ForbesThe 37-year-old singer-songwriter spoke about the relief she feels not only since releasing “Joyride,” but also after settling her legal battle with Kemosabe Records founder Dr. Luke. Kesha accused Luke of sexual, physical and emotional abuse in 2014. He staunchly denied the allegations and sued her for defamation, but it still took nearly a decade for the two to reach a settlement. The case was settled out of court. one year ago.
“I feel free for the first time since I was 18,” she says. “I’m grateful to everyone who streamed ‘Joyride’ and I love the video that’s being made. I’ve been fighting a lawsuit for almost a decade and paying millions of dollars in legal fees, so this joy is hard won for me and I’m excited for everyone to join me on ‘Joyride.'”
“Joyride” was released on Kesha’s own label, which she says she hopes will be “a safe space for artists because creativity and fear can’t coexist. When you’re scared, you can’t create. I know that from my own experience.”
As she expands her label (Kesha Records), Kesha has shared a long list of goals for the future, the first of which is a concerted effort to change litigation surrounding the protected rights of artists’ recorded voices.
“I can’t believe that humans would forever lose the rights to their own voices recorded in space,” she said, adding that she is now “looking into technology and looking for partners who share the same values as me. And with an eye to the future, I’m looking at really creative, boundary-pushing, innovative tech creators who want to change how the music business works and bring a new level of transparency to the entire business.”
