Kesha Wants To 'Empower' People With Her New Album, 'Gag Order'

In a recent interview, Kesha opened up about her latest album, "Gag Order," reflecting on her transformative journey toward self-discovery and empowerment.

Kesha revealed that she aims to empower and uplift people through her music, encouraging them to love themselves and embrace their emotions and vulnerabilities.

The album release coincides with her ongoing legal battle with alleged abuser and producer Dr. Luke as they prepare to go to court in July.

Keep on reading to learn more.

In an interview with the US Sun, Kesha provided a captivating glimpse into her latest album, "Gag Order." The emotionally charged record, produced in collaboration with the legendary Rick Rubin, showcases Kesha's transformative journey toward self-discovery and empowerment.

During the interview, the pop artist spoke passionately about her desire to empower and uplift people, stating, "I always wanted to empower people, to lift them and encourage them to love themselves."

She continued, "I have beautiful moments — I cry from happiness. And the same day, I can also have severe anxiety seven hours later. It was a disservice not to let people know that my emotions come in and out like ocean tides."

Renowned for her party anthems, some of which include the 2009 hit songs "Tik Tok" and "Take It Off," Kesha aims to reveal a vulnerable side of herself with her latest album, "Gag Order," to encourage listeners to embrace their own emotions and find strength in their vulnerabilities.

During her chat with Us Sun, Kesha revealed that working with acclaimed producer Rubin was pivotal in shaping her approach to her fifth studio album. "Rick told me that the best song is a prayer. And that's stuck with me — that's how I look at my music," the two-time Grammy award nominee explained.

"It's not my job. It's not just an activity I do that I enjoy. It's a prayer. And hopefully, that can echo out to other people, and they can relate to it," she added.

Kesha also disclosed that Rubin pushed her to dig deeper, encouraging her to be open and honest. Recalling, she says, "There were plenty of tears, I would bring in a song that in my head was saying the gnarliest s**t, and Rick would say to make it even less polite. 

"So, I went hard into my emotions. It was a gift from the universe to have this amazing, incredible, and talented Buddha-like man work with me."

Reveling in her artistic milestone, Kesha added, "I'm so proud that I've made this album. My mum said she's never been prouder of me, and she feels like this is the album I've always wanted to make."

Reflecting on her journey from the rebellious and loud pop star with a dollar sign in her name to where she is now, Kesha shared that the album's standout track, "Only Love Can Save Us Now," with lyrics such as "The b*tch I was, she's dead. Her grave desecrated. She's dead. Pay her respects. Welcome to the new era," signifies her embrace of a new chapter in her life.

"I feel like getting older is so f**king fabulous. You don't even know how good you have it when you're young. I spent so much of my 20s picking myself apart and hating myself and my body. Now I'm so f**king happy that I'm not in that phase of my life anymore. I'm so grateful," the 36-year-old gushed.

The release of Kesha's fifth studio album comes amid her ongoing legal battle with producer Dr. Luke, whose real name is Lukasz Gottwald.

In 2014, Kesha took a brave step by filing a lawsuit against Dr. Luke, accusing him of "mental manipulation and emotional abuse" and alleging that she had been drugged and raped by him. These accusations were met with denial from Dr. Luke, who countersued Kesha for defamation.

In April 2016, Kesha's case was dismissed, leaving Dr. Luke's defamation case to be heard in July. Throughout this tumultuous period, Kesha shared that she was silenced, making it difficult to share her truth and openly speak out about her experiences. With the release of her album "Gag Order," the artist is now letting her music tell her story and finally speak her truth and inspire others to do the same.