Kesha has released her first new music since leaving Dr Luke’s record label.
The 37-year-old singer left Kemosabe – which is distributed by RCA Records – in December, six months after her long-running legal battle with the producer came to an end and on Thursday (04.07.24) she unveiled her new single ‘Joyride’.
In the defiant and upbeat song, she sings: “Don’t even try to give me s***/ I’ve earned the right to be like this.”
In the chorus, she belts out: “Joy ride, joy ride/ I’m just looking for a good time tonight.”
She debuted the song – her first new material since last year’s album ‘Gag Order’ – over the weekend at Brooklyn’s Planet Pride, before releasing the song as people across the United States celebrate Indepedence Day.
Kesha and music producer Dr. Luke, 50, had been locked in a legal dispute for years after she filed a lawsuit accusing him of drugging and raping her after a party in 2005, prompting the music executive – who denied the allegation – to file a defamation case.
But in June last year, they settled out of court after nearly 10 years, just weeks before they were set to go to trial.
The pair said in a joint statement shared on Kesha’s Instagram stories: “Kesha and Dr Luke have agreed to a resolution of the lawsuit, and have agreed to issue and post a joint statement regarding that resolution.”
It went on to give two separate statements from the pair.
Kesha, previously known as Ke$ha, said: “Only God knows what happened that night. As I have always said, I cannot recount everything that happened.
“I am looking forward to closing the door on this chapter of my life and beginning a new one.
“I wish nothing but peace to all parties involved.”
Dr. Luke, whose real name is Lukasz Sebastian Gottwald, maintained his innocence in his statement below Kesha’s message.
He said: “While I appreciate Kesha again acknowledging that she cannot recount what happened that night in 2005, I am absolutely certain that nothing happened.
“I never drugged or assaulted her and would never do that to anyone. 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.”