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This article is about the American singer. For the town in China, see Kesha, Hunan.
Not to be confused with Keisha.

Kesha

Kesha Rose Sebert (born March 1, 1987),[1] better known by the mononym Kesha (/ˈkɛʃə/ KESH-ə, stylized Ke$ha), is an American pop singer, rapper and songwriter. At age eighteen, Kesha was signed to Dr. Luke's record label and publishing company.[2] Although an active musician since 2005, singing background vocals and writing songs for other artists, her breakthrough only came in early 2009 after appearing on Flo Rida's number one single, "Right Round." Her debut single, "Tik Tok", released in late 2009, reached number one in eleven countries. Her debut album, Animal, was released in January 2010 and debuted at number one in the US. By September, Kesha had sold two million albums worldwide and accumulated three more top ten singles from Animal.[3] The album was re-released with a companion extended play, Cannibal, in November, preceded by the chart-topping lead single, "We R Who We R".

Life and career

Childhood and youth

Kesha was born in Los Angeles, California, to Pebe Sebert, a singer and songwriter. Pebe, a single mother, struggled financially while supporting Kesha and her older brother, Lagan, at the time. They had to rely on welfare payments and food stamps to get by.[4] When Kesha was an infant, Pebe would often have to look after her onstage while performing.[5] Kesha grew up without her father and does not know who he is.[4] Pebe moved the family to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1991, after securing a new publishing deal for her songwriting. Kesha's younger brother, Louis was born after. Pebe frequently brought Kesha and her brothers along to recording studios and encouraged Kesha to sing.[4] Pebe also taught Kesha how to write songs and they would often write together when she returned home from school.[4][6]

The Seberts were featured in an episode of The Simple Life, as the host family to Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie in 2004.[7] Kesha described herself in an interview as being "very studious" in high school; she would drive to Belmont University to listen in on Cold War history classes after school and achieved "near perfect" SAT scores.[6] However, she dropped out of Brentwood High at age seventeen and earned her GED afterward.[8] Producers Dr. Luke and Max Martin had received Kesha's demo after Pebe passed it to Samantha Cox, senior director of writer/publisher relations at Broadcast Music Incorporated, and were impressed. They then convinced Kesha to return to Los Angeles to pursue a music career.[2]

2005–09: Career beginnings

In 2005, at eighteen, Kesha was signed to Dr. Luke's label and music publishing company.[2] Kesha later sang background vocals for Paris Hilton's single, "Nothing in This World".[9] Dr. Luke became preoccupied with other incoming projects, having enjoyed success writing and producing for Kelly Clarkson's album, Breakaway. Kesha ended up signing with David Sonenberg's management company, DAS Communications Inc., in 2006, hardly interacting with Dr. Luke after that. DAS was tasked with obtaining a major label record deal for Kesha in a year’s time in exchange for 20 percent of her music income, with her having the option of ending the relationship if they failed.[10] She worked with several writers and producers while at the company,[2] also co-wroting The Veronicas' single, "This Love" with Toby Gad.[11]

While furthering her career in studio, Kesha earned her living as a waitress.[4] Two years after arriving in Los Angeles, she decided that she wanted Prince to produce her music and located his home. After she trespassed and was discovered, she was thrown out, but not before she left her demo with him.[4] She appeared in the video for Katy Perry's single, "I Kissed a Girl" and sang background vocals for the Dr. Luke produced song "Lace and Leather" by Britney Spears in 2008.[12] DAS soon attracted the attention of Kara DioGuardi, who wanted to sign Kesha to Warner. The deal fell through due to her existing contract with Dr. Luke's label. She terminated her contract with DAS in September and reunited with Dr. Luke.[2][10]

Kesha gained exposure in the mainstream media in early 2009 after appearing on Flo Rida's number one single, "Right Round".[13] The collaboration was called "an accident" by Kesha; she had walked into a recording session with Flo Rida and Dr. Luke.[14] Flo Rida wanted a female voice for the song; Dr. Luke then suggested Kesha for the part. Flo Rida liked the end result so much that they did two more tracks.[1] However, she is not credited for her feature on the US release of "Right Round" and did not collect any money for the part.[2][13] She also refused to appear in the video; she explained in an interview that, "if you want to be a legitimate artist, it’s more important what you say no to. I knew he would want me to be some sexpot, shake my booty, and whatever."[15]

Soon after, Kesha signed a multi-album deal with RCA Records through Dr. Luke's imprint, after negotiations with Lava Records and Flo Rida's record label, Atlantic Records as well.[2] RCA had noticed her strong following on social media when negotiating her contract and thus relied on viral marketing to build a following for her debut single, "Tik Tok", offering the song for free in July. It was released digitally in the US in August and sent to radio two months later.[16] She made her official stage debut at Lollapalooza and was on the cover of Women's Wear Daily in the same month as the single's release. By then, Kesha had also co-written the title track for Miley Cyrus' The Time of Our Lives EP and made an appearance on Pitbull's album.[17][18]

2010–present: Animal and Cannibal

Kesha in October 2010

Kesha's debut album, Animal, was released in January 2010 to mixed reviews from music critics. Rolling Stone summed the album up as "repulsive, obnoxious and ridiculously catchy."[6] It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.[19] Album track "Blah Blah Blah" debuted in the top ten in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand in the same week as the album due to strong digital sales.[20] "Tik Tok", had already topped the charts in eleven countries and set numerous records in the US.[21][22][23] "Your Love is My Drug" and "Take it Off" would follow with top ten finishes on the Billboard Hot 100 as well. By March, Animal had sold a million copies worldwide with the songs racking up an additional eight million downloads.[16] She would go on to sell another million albums in the next six months.[3] Kesha was featured on two top ten singles by Taio Cruz and 3OH!3 in May.[24]

Later that month, Kesha's former managers from DAS Communications Inc. filed a lawsuit, seeking $14 million from Kesha and $12 million from Dr. Luke for commissions on her RCA Records deal, alleging that she had extended the deadline for them to get her a major record label contract and squeezed them out of her career under pressure from Dr. Luke.[10] Kesha launched her own lawsuit in August, motioning to dismiss the case on the grounds that it was her right to fire the management when they did not perform. She cited the Talent Agencies Act in an October suit, asking the California Labor Comissioner to declare her contract with DAS void because it had acted as an unlicensed talent agent while "procuring" work for her in California, where only licensed agents can do so.[10][25]

Kesha held a benefit concert on June 16, 2010 where all proceeds went to aid victims of the May 2010 Tennessee floods from her hometown Nashville.[26] She raised close to $70,000 from the event.[27] She also donated 1,000 pounds (450 kg) of dog food to a local animal shelter for pets abandoned in the flood.[28] She was a supporting act on the summer North American leg of Rihanna's Last Girl on Earth tour.[29] Animal was re-released with a companion extended play, Cannibal, in November.[30] Lead single, "We R Who We R" debuted at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, three weeks before the extended play's release.[31] Kesha will embark on her first headlining tour, Get Sleazy, in spring 2011, with dates in North America and Australia.[32]

Image and artistry

In an interview for The Times, Kesha discussed comments from critics that dismiss her and her music as lightweight, calculating and crude. She insisted that critics should look past her party girl image, saying "I have been working on realizing this dream, my path, my mission, for years. I’ve really invested a lot of thought, time and effort into it. [...] I think it’s a bummer when people don’t represent that properly, when they portray me as purely one-dimensional."[33] She has said that the dollar sign in her stage name was meant to be ironic, in that she "actually [stands] for the opposite of putting a lot of emphasis on money."[9] Kesha's styling comprises messy hair, smudged makeup and a wardrobe she describes as "garbage-chic".[34] Her stage makeup is characterized by dramatic makeup at her right eye, inspired by A Clockwork Orange,[35] and body glitter.[36] Kesha ranked fifty-sixth on Maxim's 2010 Hot 100 "definitive list of the world’s most beautiful women".[37]

Themes and genre

Kesha has cited Beck, Queen, Madonna, Johnny Cash, Aaron Neville, Bob Dylan, Beastie Boys, The Damned, Velvet Underground, Talking Heads and Blondie as musical influences.[38][17][39][40][41] She has also highlighted Dylan's Nashville Skyline as her favorite album and called her debut album, Animal, an homage to the Beastie Boys' Licensed to Ill.[38] She has writing credits on every track on the album and defended her decision to make pop music in an interview, explaining that, "[p]eople get so pretentious about pop music so I do feel like I'm fighting this battle. My record is honest and fun. It's a celebration of youth and life and going out and getting crazy. I'm about non-pretentious irreverence and fuck off good fun!"[42][43]

Kesha credits the album as having a rock edge, with straightforward lyrics based on her life experiences and influenced by the storytelling style of country music.[44][45] She has urged critics not to take her lyrics seriously; such as in "Tik Tok", where she has been criticized for referencing brushing her teeth with a bottle of Jack Daniel's whiskey. She explained that, "Everyone's really offended by that. But come on, brushing your teeth with Jack Daniel's: what girl does that? People are like, 'Do you really advocate brushing your teeth with bourbon?' I'm like, 'Yes, actually, I do, every day, for everybody. Especially eight year olds.' I mean, what are you talking about? Of course I don't. Come on."[33] Kesha has also expressed frustration at the double standard for the objectification of women in music. Thus, in songs such as "Blah Blah Blah" and "Boots and Boys", she makes it a point to sing the same way men traditionally sing about women.[4][35]

Animal is of the dance-pop genre; it incorporates elements of electropop in its production. It ranges from high energy pop dance tracks, to electronic ballads, to songs with guitar riffs.[42] When it came to her ballads, Kesha stated that they "[would] still have that four-on-the-floor to keep the heads moving." She also regards the need for her live shows to be "rowdy and really fun, and hopefully dance-inducing."[45]

Vocal style

"Tik Tok" (2009)
Kesha's debut single and one of many songs in which she raps and uses Auto-Tune on her voice
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Kesha uses a sing-song rapping style on a number of her songs, which she admitted had begun as a joke,[2] most notably on her debut single "Tik Tok". The New York Times stated that the song represented "the complete and painless assimilation of the white female rapper into pop music."[15] The Los Angeles Times compared this vocal style to that of L'Trimm and Salt-N-Pepa.[46] Kesha has been criticized for using Auto-Tune and vocoders to distort her vocals on her album Animal.[47] Billboard stated that the heavily processed vocals "[made] it hard to tell whether [Kesha could] actually sing."[48]

Discography

Main article: Kesha discography

Tours

Awards and nominations

Year Nominated work Event Award Result
2010 Herself American Music Awards[49] Artist of the Year Nominated
Favorite Female Artist Nominated
Eska Awards Best New Artist Of The Year Won
MTV Europe Music Awards[50] Best New Act Won
Best Push Act Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards[51] Best New Artist Nominated
"Tik Tok" Best Female Video Nominated
Best Pop Video Nominated
"My First Kiss" Best Collaboration Nominated
"Tik Tok" MuchMusic Video Awards[52][53] International Video of the Year - Artist Nominated
UR FAVE: International Video Nominated
Herself People's Choice Awards[54] Favorite Breakout Artist Pending
Favorite Pop Artist Pending
"Your Love is My Drug" Favorite Song Pending
Herself Teen Choice Awards[55] Choice Music: Female Artist Nominated
Choice Music: Breakout Artist — Female Nominated
Choice Summer Music Star: Female Nominated
Animal Choice Music: Album — Pop Nominated
"Your Love Is My Drug" Choice Music: Single Nominated
Choice Summer Music: Song Nominated
Herself World Music Awards[56] Best New Artist Nominated

References

  1. ^ a b Mazzella, Alysia (March 2, 2009). "Kesha: Crazy, Sexy & Too Fuckin' Cool". 21–7 Magazine. Retrieved November 1, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Werde, Bill (February 19, 2010). "Kesha: The Billboard Cover Story". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Kesha Continues Her 2010 World Domination" (Press release). RCA Music Group. September 27, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Day, Elizabeth (November 29, 2009). "She's a walking, talking living dollar". The Guardian. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
  5. ^ Axelrod, Nick (August 26, 2009). "Kesha Sebert: Hard Candy". Women's Wear Daily. Fairchild Fashion Group. Retrieved October 20, 2009.
  6. ^ a b c "Superstar Kesha Tops Charts". NPR. January 16, 2010. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
  7. ^ "Wedding Planner". The Simple Life. Season 3. Episode 15. May 12, 2005. Fox. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Barnett, Sophie (March 24, 2010). "MTV Fashion File: Kesha". MTV Networks. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
  9. ^ a b Lynch, Joseph (December 11, 2009). "Kesha: A Music Mix Q&A". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 12, 2009.
  10. ^ a b c d Peltz, Jennifer (May 28, 2010). "Pop star Kesha sued by former managers in NYC". The Associated Press. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  11. ^ Moses, Hussein (October 26, 2009). "Kesha Hearts NZ!". MTV Networks. Retrieved December 14, 2009.
  12. ^ Sullivan, Matt (August 13, 2009). "Kesha and the Not-Quite-72 Virgins in Her Own Personal Heaven". Esquire. Hearst Communications, Inc. Retrieved October 20, 2009.
  13. ^ a b Gordon, Sandra (November 25, 2009). "Breaking & Entering: Kesha". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved November 26, 2009.
  14. ^ Levine, Nicke (November 13, 2009). "Interview – Kesha". Digital Spy Limited. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
  15. ^ a b Caramanica, Jon (December 23, 2009). "Changing the Face (and Sound) of Rap". The New York Times. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
  16. ^ a b Edgecliffe-Johnson, Andrew (March 24, 2010). "How to create a chart-topper". Financial Times. Retrieved April 21, 2010.
  17. ^ a b Stransky, Tanner (January 22, 2010). "Kesha Gets the Party Started". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  18. ^ Lester, Paul (October 2, 2009). "Kesha (No 640)". Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
  19. ^ Caulfield, Keith (January 23, 2010). "Kesha ends Boyle's 'Dream' with No 1. debut at Billboard 200". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved January 23, 2010.
  20. ^ Pietroluongo, Silvio (January 13, 2010). "Kesha Holds On Hot 100; Doubles Down On Digital Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
  21. ^ Pietroluongo, Silvio (February 11, 2010). "Kesha Holds Atop Hot 100, Pink Glows with 'Glitter'". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved February 12, 2010.
  22. ^ Pietroluongo, Silvio (December 30, 2009). "Kesha Sets Female Download Record". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
  23. ^ Trust, Gary (January 25, 2010). "'TiK' Talk: Kesha Breaks Pop Songs Record". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
  24. ^ Fekadu, Mesfin (June 30, 2010). "Kesha wants to be more than pop's party girl". The Associated Press. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
  25. ^ Bellon, Matthew (October 5, 2010). "Ke$ha Blasts Former Manager in Legal Dispute". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
  26. ^ "Kesha Announces Nashville Flood Benefit Concert". Sony Music Entertainment. June 17, 2010. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  27. ^ Castillo, Michelle (August 12, 2010). "Kesha — from band geek to life of the party". msnbc.com. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  28. ^ King, Caitlin (May 10, 2010). "Music City to rebuild on shoulders of its stars". The Associated Press. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
  29. ^ Concepcion, Mariel (April 6, 2010). "Rihanna Announces Tour With Nicki Minaj, Kesha". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
  30. ^ Montgomery, James (October 13, 2010). "Kesha To Return With Cannibal On November 22. Animal companion will feature eight new songs". MTV Networks. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
  31. ^ Greenblatt, Leah (November 3, 2010). "Ke$ha's 'We R Who We R' debuts at No. 1 on 'Billboard' Hot 100". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
  32. ^ Vick, Megan (November 9, 2010). "Kesha to 'Get Sleazy' on First Headlining Tour". Billboard. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  33. ^ a b Cairns, Dan (March 7, 2010). "Kesha demands a pinch of respect and mirth". Times Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
  34. ^ Piazza, Jo (February 7, 2010). "Kesha's Look: Garbage Chic or Just Plain Trash?". PopEater. AOL Inc. Retrieved March 12, 2010.
  35. ^ a b Stevenson, Jane. "Ke$ha: I dress like a 'wild animal'". QMI Agency. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
  36. ^ "Meet "Tik Tok" Singer Kesha". Seventeen. Hearst Communications, Inc. January 11, 2010. Retrieved April 14, 2010.
  37. ^ "2010 Hot 100". Maxim. Alpha Media Group Inc. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  38. ^ a b Diehl, Matt. "Kesha". Interview. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
  39. ^ Hess, Mike (January 11, 2010). "Kesha Can Handle Her Liquor and Success". PopEater. AOL Inc. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
  40. ^ Parsi, Novid. "Interview". Time Out Chicago. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  41. ^ Kazemi, Alex (May 17, 2010). "Interview: Kesha". Fashion Indie. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
  42. ^ a b Jeffries, David. "Animal Review". allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
  43. ^ French, Dan (March 1, 2010). "Kesha - Interview". Digital Spy Limited. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
  44. ^ Malone, Aibhe (January 8, 2010). "All that glitters". Independent.ie. Retrieved January 10, 2010.
  45. ^ a b "WAPS interviews Kesha". We Are Pop Slags. October 28, 2009. Retrieved October 29, 2009. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  46. ^ Powers, Ann (January 5, 2010). "Kesha is a wisecracking 'Animal'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 6, 2010.
  47. ^ Keefe, Jonathan (January 8, 2010). "Kesha Animal". Slant Magazine. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  48. ^ Herrera, Monica (January 5, 2010). "Kesha, "Animal"". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
  49. ^ Greenblatt, Lead. "Eminem, Lady Antebellum lead American Music Awards music nominations". Music Mix. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2010-10-12. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  50. ^ "Katy Perry & Lady GaGa Lead EMAs Nominations". MTV Networks. 2010-09-20. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
  51. ^ "Ke$ha Is 'So Grateful' For VMA Nominations". MTV Networks. 2010-08-03. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
  52. ^ "International Video Of The Year - Artist". Much Music MMVA. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
  53. ^ "UR Fave International Video". Much Music MMVA. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
  54. ^ http://www.keshasparty.com/us/news/keha-be-considered-2011-peoples-choice-awards
  55. ^ "2010 Teen Choice Awards Nominations " Full List". Hitz Only. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
  56. ^ "2010 World Music Awards Winners". My News Booth. Retrieved 2010-07-10.

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