The pop queen Kesha has cracked open the vault of her wild ride through the music industry in a TED Talk titled “Alchemy of Pop,” which dropped on Thursday, July 11. Grab your popcorn because this emotional rollercoaster is worth the watch.
Kesha, the “Joyride” star, didn’t just spill the tea—she poured the whole kettle. She dove deep into the magic of songwriting and her personal struggles, including her epic decade-long showdown with Dr. Luke, which wrapped up in 2024.
With all the flair of a seasoned diva, Kesha recounted the whirlwind of emotions behind her smash hit “Tik Tok,” penned at the tender age of 21. Fast forward a few years, and you’ve got the heartfelt anthem “Praying” from 2017, born from a whole different kind of chaos.
“I found myself tangled up in an ugly legal spat with the very person who owned the rights to my recorded voice. Yup, I basically signed away my vocal cords. Talk about a bad deal! It felt like losing my voice and myself in one brutal swipe,” Kesha shared, probably with an eye roll that could move mountains.
“It was a circus. The public watched. The pain was real. I was angrier than a cat in a bath. So, I did what any self-respecting pop star would do—I wrote my way out of it.”
And then, the mic drop moment: “On March 6, 2024, I reclaimed my voice—literally. After nearly 20 years, I finally got my legal rights back. Freedom never sounded so good!”
In classic Kesha fashion, she added, “It’s funny how you can lose the rights to your own voice, but you can never lose the rights to your truth.” Preach, girl!
So, if you’re in the mood for some real talk with a side of inspiration, watch the full TED Talk. Just be ready for some serious feels and a few laughs along the way.
