Kesha wants to change the law in the wake of her long-running battle with Doctor Luke.
Kesha wants to change the law
The 37-year-old singer was locked in a legal row with the producer for several years after accusing him of drugging and raping her at a party, but was only able to leave his record label Kemosabe in December, six months after they settled their dispute out of court, and she wants to campaign for change after having lost “the rights to [her] recorded voice” because she didn’t own her own master recordings.
Asked what being an independent artist means to her now, she told Forbes magazine: “It’s wild that a human being can lose the rights to their recorded voice in perpetuity in the universe.
“First of all, changing litigation around that is something that’s on my radar, so if this makes it into the interview – if anybody’s reading this – I would love to connect because it’s atrocious that’s part of the business of making art.”
The ‘Joyride’ hitmaker plans to use her own Kesha Records label to provide a “safe space” for other musicians.
She added: “Second of all, I have to say, currently I’m really excited to build a safe space for artists because creation and fear cannot co-exist. When you’re in a state of fear, you cannot create, and I know this from personal experience.
“I’m really excited for Kesha Records to expand and grow in all the ways that people would think, but also in unexpected ways because I’m currently looking into the tech space and I’m looking to find partners who have the values that I align with.
“So, in addition to the traditional record label model, I’m also looking to the future and I’m looking for some really creative, boundary-pushing, innovative tech creators that want to change how the music business works and bring a new level of transparency to the whole business.
“I’m in a really exciting space right now.”
Kesha urged other artists who feel they have had their own voices taken away to continue to believe in their truth.
Asked what she’d say to others seeking freedom in the way she did, she replied: “I would say, first of all, get a good lawyer – that’s step one. And step two, I just want to tell you that I believe that should be illegal and I will do everything in my power to try to change the litigation around that.
“I’m also working – you know, like I said, in the tech space. I started my own record company and I am coming to change the world, honey, so just hold on tight – keep writing songs.
“It’s really f***** up that in this country, you can lose the rights to your voice but you will never lose the rights to your truth and the truth will set you free. I’m working really hard to change everything in my power in this world, so that never happens to anyone ever again.”
