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Image: Youtube/Kesha
Kesha’s ongoing court battle with her former producer and songwriting partner Dr Luke has prevented her from being able to release new music – until now.
The Tik Tok singer has just dropped Praying, an emotional song that gives a glimpse into the harrowing lows of her depression, eating disorders and the personal toll the legal battle with Dr Luke – who she alleges sexually assaulted her – has taken.
Kesha has been fighting to be released from her contract with RCA and Kemosabe, a division of Sony Music, so she would not have to work with Dr Luke, real name Lukasz Gottwald. But Gottwald left the record label earlier this year, which could be why she decided to release new music with the company.
Praying is the first off her upcoming album Rainbow, which is due August 11 and features collaborations with Dolly Parton and the Eagles Of Death Metal.
In an essay for Lenny Letter published today, Kesha explained Praying “was written about that moment when the sun starts peeking through the darkest storm clouds, creating the most beautiful rainbow.”
“[I]channeled my feelings of severe hopelessness and depression” and “found strength in myself even when it felt out of reach,” she said.
Praying was written in collaboration with Ryan Lewis of Macklemore fame and Australian artist Ben Abraham.
At the beginning of the track, Kesha delivers a powerful monologue:
“What is the lesson? What is the point? God, give me a sign, or I have to give up. I can’t do this anymore. Please just let me die.” In the video, she lays on a raft in the middle of the ocean, no doubt an interpretation of how lonely and helpless the 30-year-old has felt in recent years.
But the song soon strikes a more uplifting tone. She dresses in colourful, eccentric outfits as she sings “I’m proud of who I am/ No more monsters, I can breathe again.”
Kesha ended her legal battle with Dr Luke in California to focus her efforts on the case filed in New York, which is ongoing. Dr Luke denies the allegations.
