Kesha’s (formerly Ke$ha) slow crawl to the top was characterized by being billed as a nameless vocalist on the 2009 Flo Rida track “Right Round,” a telling aspect of how Dr. Luke felt inclined to treat her from the outset. And even before being “given the break” of appearing as a nameless backing singer, she was relegated to small roles (both visual and auditory) on songs for Katy Perry and Britney Spears, as this was the most effort Dr. Luke could seem to muster in fostering her potential.
While signed to Dr. Luke’s Kemosabe Entertainment (starting at the age of 18), Kesha gained interest from A&R executive Kara DioGuardi, who wanted to sign her with Warner Bros. Records. Unfortunately, this would not be the first time in which being stuck in a contract with Dr. Luke would prevent her from pursuing her own course.
Her struggles with the producer reached an apex in 2014, after Kesha filed a lawsuit for sexual assault and battery and emotional abuse. The legal battle has been ongoing, with Dr. Luke counter-suing for defamation of character. Being trapped in her contract with the producer’s label has done the opposite of what she intended in taking legal action against him. While she only wanted the freedom to pursue her own musical choices, she has instead been put between a rock and a hard place, with no allowance to work with other producers and therefore no chance of creating new music until the court makes a ruling.
As the singer’s own attorney bluntly put it, “Unless the Court issues this injunction, Kesha will suffer irreparable harm, plummeting her career past the point of no return.” One really hopes this isn’t the case, as Kesha still has so many more electropop party anthems to contribute to the world.
[…] a bit oppressed lately (flaunted most recently by her “Fuck the World” tattoo). Amid the ongoing legal battle she’s been having with Dr. Luke–who Kesha has accused of sexual assault and verbal abuse that led to her eating […]