When Kesha announced her Freedom Tour back in March, she said: “I’ve lived through the fire. This tour is about what comes after. Freedom isn’t just leaving something behind — it’s discovering that what you have lived through has made you magnificently who you are.” No one can deny that Kesha has earned the right to make such a self-affirming statement. After a decade of back-and-forth lawsuits with Dr. Luke, he and Kesha finally reached a settlement in June 2023. By late December of that year, Kesha was free of Luke’s Kemosabe Records label, and amicably parted ways with her longtime management. So since 2024, Kesha has truly been able to be who she magnificently is. The Freedom Tour kicked off over Memorial Day weekend in California and runs through the end of August. Mathias Rosenzweig just interviewed her for a stunning article in V Magazine, a few highlights:
Her last human lifetime: I really do feel like my animals are the love of my life. I think back to all the romantic relationships I’ve had, and none of them hold a candle to what I have when I hit the stage with my animals — that is just pure transcendent love, really unlike anything. It’s very hard to describe. And that’s why I feel so lucky, because I know that this is my last lifetime incarnated as a human. I feel like my version of my higher power was like, okay, you’ve lived many, many lives, and for your last one, we’re gonna just make it the most intense life a human could possibly lead. You’re gonna see some crazy sh-t. It’s gonna be barely tolerable, but you’re gonna be rewarded with a love — like this Goliath of a love that is gonna come at you like a tidal wave in the form of many beautiful people, and it’s gonna follow you throughout your whole life. … There’s never a time in my life I’m more present than I am on stage, and I get to celebrate my freedom, which is so beautiful, surrounded by so much love.
Why it’s the ‘Freedom’ tour: I really internalized that I’m not lovable, I’m not worthy, I’m not acceptable the way I am. And I have set out, since I got the freedom and autonomy over my voice, on this path of thinking: what if I have freedom over all of these limiting beliefs about myself and internalized shame that other people put on me? What if I just really had freedom from all the judgment — that people have judged me, but also that I’ve judged myself? I started to examine all the ways I felt like I was abandoning myself because of past experiences, or things I’ve heard, or things I read on Twitter, or things I’ve overheard people say about me, or things I’ve made up in my mind that people are saying about me when I look ugly on a red carpet — just all of these experiences that shape us and make us who we are. I wanted freedom from the negativity. The freedom piece is about: what if we loved ourselves so fully and completely, exactly as we are, including everything we’ve gone through — then what would happen?
What she gets from the audience: I feel like when you’re lying in bed with someone you’re so in love with, and they look at you, and all they have for you is just pure radiating love — that’s the energy I have from the audience when I’m on stage. I feel like I’m being looked at through the eyes of my greatest lover. It’s spiritual. I just played two nights ago, and it makes me feel like the best version of myself. Getting to go on tour and play these shows really brought me back home to myself and to my power. Had I not had my fans show up for me, I don’t know where I would be post almost ten-year litigation.
Well… hot damn. I used the word “stunning” earlier, and it still feels like the most appropriate descriptor. I feel zapped in my solar plexus from Kesha’s honesty. And her beauty. You don’t even have to look at pictures, the transcript alone shows how much Kesha is glowing! I’m so happy for her. But not gonna lie, this quote cut me to the core: “I started to examine all the ways I felt like I was abandoning myself because of past experiences.” See into my heart, why don’t you! Yeah, I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately, the ways we abandon ourselves in order to get by or get through something. And then it’s a habit. And then you’re wondering where you lost yourself. But if anything could convince us (me, it’s me, I’m talking about myself) that it’s worth it to go through the fire, it’s seeing how f–king radiant and clear and HAPPY Kesha is right now.
PS — No, I don’t understand how Kesha knows this is her last life as a human, but that’s okay. I’m buoyed by her conviction!
Photos credit: Jeffrey Mayer/Avalon, Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Avalon, MHD/Avalon, Getty Images
I like the….. flower column? She’s wearing, I’d like to be that for Halloween.
I’m glad to hear she’s happy, don’t think I’ve heard a song of hers and recognized it. These outfits read as spring goddess, what a vibe.
The last song I heard from her was amazing, so I hope she will continue to put out songs (Praying). I curse Dr. Luke for his horrible abuse of this extremely talented woman (or any woman).
She suffered so much through the last decade. It’s breathtaking to see her thrive on her own terms. It’s sickening that Dr.Luke still has a career. I’m honestly waiting for a documentary P Diddy style to come out.
Me too, Kesha. Me too. The last life is so wounding but also so healing.