Kesha celebrates freedom and justice for all with the release of her new single 'Joyride' on Independence Day, the star's first track since being released from her contract with Kemosabe Records in December.
Dropping early Thursday morning (July 4), the summer-ready song features Kesha revisiting her EDM-pop sound from the 2010s while asserting her right to take exactly what she wants without faking a smile . “Don't even try to give me s–t/ I earned the right to be like this,” she sings in a fancy club. “Joy ride, joy ride/ Just looking to have a good time tonight.”
The 37-year-old singer-songwriter hasn't dropped music since 2023 Gag Order, which was her last contractual release with Kemosabe. It's also her first project since settling her nearly decade-long defamation lawsuit with company founder Dr. Luke, whom she accused of sexual, physical and emotional abuse in 2014.
“I haven't felt this free since I was 18,” Kesha wrote in a December TikTok post shortly after it was first reported that her contract had been fulfilled.
The “We R Who We R” singer has been teasing “Joy Ride” for days ahead of its release, sharing videos of her dressed in a red leotard at a gas station to promote the track. One of the posts revealed that the song is presented by “Kesha Records”.
The musician also debuted “Joyride” live ahead of its official arrival, playing the song for her audience at New York's Planet Pride on Saturday (June 29). “Good news: I'm a free queen mother,” she said before launching into the track. “And you know what I want to do? I want to play my first song in almost 20 f–king years… as a free queen mother.”
Check out Kesha's “Joyride” below.
