Kesha celebrates her own independence day with new single, "Joyride"

Kesha filed a lawsuit against Dr. Luke – her producer and label owner – in 2014, accusing him of an extended period of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse and attempting to extricate herself from her contract. Luke countersued that same year, denying all her allegations and claiming that the she had defamed him.

The track serves as her first release since 2023’s Gag Order, which was her last contractual release with the label, who she officially parted ways with, in December. Kesha was signed to Kemosabe, which is distributed by RCA Records, and managed by Vector Management (Allison Russell, Rage Against the Machine, Molly Tuttle).

Last week, Kesha gave “Joyride” at New York City’s Planet Pride. “Good news: I’m a free motherfucking woman,” she said, introducing the track. “And do you know what I want to do? I kinda wanna play my first song in almost 20 fucking years, as a free motherfucking woman.”