Kesha Celebrates Feeling 'Free' After Split From Label & Management

Kesha seems to be celebrating her departure from Dr. Luke's label, Kemosabe Records, with a day at the beach. She publicly showed off the celebratory move in a video posted to social media, allowing her fans to partake. 

The end of the singer's contract with Kemosabe Records, a subsidiary of Sony Music's RCA Records, follows the resolution of a prolonged legal dispute between her and Luke earlier this year.

To commemorate her long-awaited separation from Kemosabe Records, Kesha uploaded a clip that featured her in a black top and aqua-colored shorts. In the video, the "Take It Off" hitmaker is seen placing her phone in the sand of an unknown beach.

Once satisfied with the placement, she started running in the sand till she got to the ocean and dipped her toes in. Across the short footage, set to Beach House's 2015 tune, "Space Song," she penned, "I haven't felt this free since I was 18."

The upload has not only accrued over 57,000 likes from TikTok users but also got fans talking in the comment section.

"Congratulations you deserve it your music was my girlhood," one fan effused, as another stated, "You deserve the freedom. Congratulations, welcome to a new chapter in your life!!" and a third shared, "Glad you are feeling free and healing!"

A fourth person stressed, "THIS IS AMAZING. I've been waiting for the day you are FREE," and a fifth commented, "You're so strong and you're free, mother! yYu deserve nothing but the best. I love you to pieces."

Days before the big celebration, a source informed Variety that Kesha's contract with Dr. Luke, real name Łukasz Sebastian Gottwald, concluded in December, following the release of her album "Gag Order" in May.

The music project marked the final album she was obligated to release under her five-album deal with Kemosabe Records. A statement shared with the outlet further disclosed that Kesha has also separated from her management company, Vector Management.

"Jack Rovner confirms, after 16 years, Kesha and Vector Management have agreed amicably to part ways, with much love and respect," the declaration read. Kesha followed up with her own statement, writing: 

"My manager has been an unwavering supporter of helping me get through the lengthy legal battle I have been embroiled in for almost a decade. We have achieved many great successes and have shared a magnificent part of my life with me. I am so grateful to them and always will be. In need of a fresh start in my life, we have parted ways but I will remain forever grateful for the run we had." 

During her time with the label, Kesha launched five full-length albums, including her highly successful 2010 debut, "Animal," featuring the hit single "Tik Tok," and three EPs.

Her legal struggle to terminate the contract originated from her accusations of sexual assault against Luke, who consistently refuted the allegations. In the end, Kesha acknowledged that she did not wholly recall the events from that evening.

In October, The Blast reported Kesha's candid insight into why she could not work on another pop album again. In an interview before her performance at The Ryman in Nashville, the vocal star who rose to stardom with pop hits like "We R Who We R," revealed:

"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. They're all incredible, but they are also a constant stream of temporary rushes of energy, like a drug." 

She continued, noting, "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." 

After reflecting on a period of isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown where she was "leading this narcissistic, self-involved life for myself and my fans that crashed down around me," Kesha admitted:

"At this point in 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. The parts of myself that I had ignored for so long — ugly, post-COVID-19 pandemic anxiety-ridden emotions — were present."