Kesha Shares The SHOCKING Reason She CAN'T Make Another Pop Album
By Kristin Myers on October 23, 2023 at 11:00 AM EDT
Pop star Kesha is getting candid about why she can no longer create a new pop album.
The "Eat The Acid" singer reached new emotional depths for her latest album, "Gag Order," in which she confessed to crying daily for weeks in order to complete the album.
Kesha Says She Cried Daily For WEEKS To Create 'Gag Order' Album
Kesha burst onto the pop scene with hit songs like "TiK ToK" and "Your Love Is My Drug" before following it up with even more pop singles like "We R Who We R." However, following her hit songs "Rainbow" and "Praying," it seems that the 36-year-old singer might not be able to create another "happy" album any time soon.
"My search for spiritual confirmation led me away from religion and more towards arbitrary career goals that I believed would make me feel whole -- albums, cars, money, fame, houses, tours, Grammy awards," Kesha told The Tennessean ahead of her performance at the Mother Church, The Ryman, in the "soul" of Nashville.
"They're all incredible, but they are also a constant stream of temporary rushes of energy, like a drug," she continued, adding, "Now, I'm at a place in my career where I feel complete, happy, and making art that has transformed my PTSD and trauma into something honest and beautiful."
"I was leading this narcissistic, self-involved life for myself and my fans that crashed down around me," she said, reflecting on a period of isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. "Realizing that people had to live without my content or craft was initially an uncomfortable experience."
'As I desperately wrote my way through it, I cried daily, for three weeks'
She went on to say, "Reconnecting to my craft as art in this chapter of my life required me to channel the big emotions I used to put into songs into conversations with the universe about allowing creations larger than my humanity to exist."
She noted that the success early on in her career earned her the "privilege" of working on more soul-searching music. The "Something To Believe In" singer teamed up with producer Rick Rubin to craft "emotive," "scary," and "vulnerably open" songs from her "gut" spirituality.
"Watching my insecurities disintegrate was a painful series of 'ego deaths' as I watched the world's preconceptions of me crumbling away," Kesha recalled. "As I desperately wrote my way through it, I cried daily, for three weeks."
"At this point of my career, I'm physically incapable of going into the studio and lying to myself and others by making an incredibly disingenuous, happy pop album filled with fun, party anthems. Whether I liked it or not, the truth that appeared [on "Gag Order"] was not reflected in perfect love songs, either," she said, referring to her fifth studio album released in May 2023. "The parts of myself that I had ignored for so long -- ugly, post-COVID-19 pandemic anxiety-ridden emotions -- were present."
"My songs have evolved from being guerrilla-trained to make pop hits," she continued, "to being intimate f---ing art that I pour my soul into that has no boundaries or rules."
Kesha's Legal Dispute Against Dr. Luke Was Settled In June 2023
Part of Kesha's trauma resulted from the decade-long legal dispute against her longtime producer, Dr. Luke, over allegations of sexual assault, battery, and several other accusations. He had fired back with a countersuit alleging defamation.
However, their case was officially settled on June 22, 2023, a month before the trial could begin. In her official statement, Kesha wrote, “Only God knows what happened that night,” adding, “As I have always said, I cannot recount everything that happened. I am looking forward to closing the door on this chapter in my life and beginning a new one. I wish nothing but peace to all parties involved.”
“While I appreciate Kesha again acknowledging that she cannot recount what happened that night in 2005, I am absolutely certain that nothing happened,” Dr. Luke said in his statement. “I never drugged or assaulted her and would never do that to anyone.”
He went on to say, “For the sake of my family, I have vigorously fought to clear my name for nearly 10 years. It is time for me to put this difficult matter behind me and move on with my life. I wish Kesha well.”
Fans can get more information on her upcoming "Gag Order" tour by clicking here.
