Singers laugh for various reasons, not all of them sincere. Take, for instance, the laugh that closes out Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi”—a giggle some people find so fake, they made their own fan edits just to cut it out. There is intentional laughter, layered in to create a wild, maniacal atmosphere (“Thriller,” “…
Though the bulk of the statuettes had been handed out before the 60th Grammy Awards telecast began, the ceremony was still a lively affair thanks to stirring performances from Kendrick Lamar, Kesha, and Childish Gambino. But as the night went on, astute viewers noticed how few female nominees were making their way to…
“We come in peace, but we mean business,” Janelle Monae said in her speech introducing Kesha at the Grammys, a speech that espoused support of and solidarity with the Time’s Up movement, expressed tonight by the white roses attendees wore on their lapels. This year, Kesha released her inspiring comeback album Rainbow,…
Good-hearted rabble-rousers Kesha and Macklemore released powerful and borderline likable albums this year, respectively. So we suppose it makes perfect sense for the Rainbow and Gemini artists to hit the road together next summer. Fans can look forward to The Adventures Of Kesha And Macklemore, a whirlwind, 30-city…
With its echoing, gossamer guitars, the debut, self-titled album from Brooklyn four-piece Cigarettes After Sex evokes the fleeting quality of memory—the bedroom pop group’s very name pointing to something having just happened rather than occurring in the present. Perhaps no song on the 2017 LP better captures the…
Despite the best efforts of her lawyers, Lady Gaga is getting dragged into the defamation lawsuit Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald has filed against Kesha. Gottwald’s lawyers subpoenaed Lady Gaga earlier this year after she’d already supplied them with a written statement about some text exchange(s) she had with Kesha, who,…
There are difficult follow-up records, and then there’s Rainbow. Since the release of Kesha’s second album, 2012’s Warrior, the pop shapeshifter’s music has taken a backseat to her contentious, complicated legal battle with producer—and accused abuser—Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald. Even today, the case is far from…
Kesha’s new song is another family affair—following the release of the “Woman” single and video, which she directed with her brother, the Warrior artist has shared the song she co-wrote with her mother, Pebe Sebert. The new track, “Hymn,” celebrates all the weirdos and outcasts, who don’t fit into any one group, or in…
Every Friday, dozens of new records are released into the wild. Some make big splashes, and others sink almost immediately. For most music consumers, it’s almost too much information, and save for those precious few who spend their hours glued to review sites and release calendars, it’s hard to know what’s coming out…
Just a few days ago, we reported that Lady Gaga had been subpoenaed to testify in court as part of Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald’s ongoing legal battle with Kesha over her allegations that he abused her physically and verbally, with Gaga being forced to testify regarding a written statement she gave the court about…
Although Kesha has finally started producing new music again—with her first album in years, Rainbow, due out August 11—that doesn’t mean the ongoing legal fight between her and Dr. Luke, the producer she has repeatedly said sexually assaulted her, has ended. Luke (whose real name is Lukasz Gottwald) is still suing…
Soon after announcing her new album Rainbows and releasing “Prayer,” her first solo single since 2013, Kesha has released a second single, “Woman.” And although this song also comes with a personal artist’s statement in which she calls the process of creating it with Drew Pearson and Stephen Wrabel “one of the best…
Her painful, extended legal battle with her former producer and alleged abuser Dr. Luke still isn’t over, but musically, Kesha is moving on. This morning, she announced Rainbow, her first new full-length album since 2012’s Warrior. (She released an EP, Deconstructed, in 2013, and a single, “True Colors,” with Zedd…
Last week, Jerry Seinfeld and Kesha made headlines together when video of the hug that never was began spreading all over the internet. At the time, it seemed pretty clear why the comedian declined to embrace the Warrior singer; he didn’t appear to know who she was. Although Kesha’s request was harmless enough, his…
Proving that his show’s “No hugging, no learning” maxim wasn’t just a useful writing tool, but also a whole way of life, Jerry Seinfeld showed himself to be a masterful dodger of unwanted embraces this week, blocking a hug request from singer Kesha with practiced ease. The two were on the red carpet at the Kennedy…
RuPaul’s Drag Race season 9 finally reached its potential last week with a hilarious, drama-filled episode with a jaw-dropping lip sync and elimination, and the show keeps the momentum going with this week’s makeover episode. It’s not on the same level as last week, but losing a frontrunner like Valentina has reminded…
The latest development in Kesha’s ongoing legal battle with Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald is no more promising for her than any of the previous rulings. If you need a quick refresher: Kesha’s suing Gottwald and Sony in order to be let out of her contract, which currently puts her in the unenviable position of making…
Music producer—and increasingly experienced litigant—Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald has now added “Kesha’s fans” to “Kesha’s mom” and “Kesha” on his list of people he’s recently involved in legal action. Pitchfork reports that Gottwald has targeted #FreeKesha organizer Michael Eisele for a subpoena that would force him to…
In response to that string of rather unflattering emails released by Kesha last week, embattled music producer Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald has filed a motion with some correspondence that he claims counters Kesha’s claims that he said terrible things about her appearance. Dr. Luke initially tried to shrug off the…
Even for people who don’t always take Kesha’s side in her protracted legal war with producer Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald (like his lawyers or immediate family members), it’s pretty easy to recognize that he rarely comes across as a good guy. That’s to be expected when you get sued by a popular recording artist because…
