Kesha’s . (pronounced “period”) is 11 track album and her first album release on her own label, Kesha Records. The theme of freedom is present throughout, the July 4th release date no doubt a nod to this motif. The first song on the album is literally called “FREEDOM.,” a unique track that begins slow and serious but halfway through crescendos into a dance track with Kesha officially declaring that she is back. On the song, Kesha, in the way only she can, balances singing about being free and celebrating a return to self. . is full of ear worms that celebrate what Kesha does best: flirty, raunchy party anthems that contain vulnerability and soul.
The theme of freedom is present in various recent pop music releases. HAIM samples George Michael’s “Freedom! ‘90” on I Quit’s “Gone.” (Spotify hosted a great recent chat between Kesha and HAIM). Addison sings of freedom in relation to a city on her opening song on her debut album, singing of New York, “feel so free, feel so free/ Feel so free, it’s my religion” MARINA, on her recent release’s title track and first song, “PRINCESS OF POWER” sings of love: “It set me free.” Lorde decided to wait until later to sing of freedom Virgin, repeating “”I’m free, I’m free/Free, I’m free” on “Clearblue,” the album’s seventh song.
For Kesha, the focus on freedom is likely related to the end of her almost decade-long legal battle with music producer Dr. Luke, which resulted in a settlement in June 2023. One positive result of the dispute is Kesha Records, her label created in 2024. Kesha described the endeavor as having the intention where “no one owns anyone.”
. has five singles, “JOYRIDE.,” “DELUSIONAL.,” “YIPPEE-KI-YAY.,” “BOY CRAZY.,” and “THE ONE.” The highest streaming single is “JOYRIDE” is about finding a hook-up, a true Kesha track that includes a fun accordion beat and heavy synths. “BOY CRAZY,” is about loving boys from “Berlin to Bombay, New York to LA.” The song’s music video may be different than what you’d think, it is very queer and quirky. “THE ONE.” is finding the light and realizing she is her own savior.
“YIPPEE-KI-YAY.” is a country-bop anthem, that includes three remixes, one with ag cook and another with T-Pain. In “LOVE FOREVER” Kesha admits to wanting true, lasting love, a detour from “RED FLAG.” (my personal favorite track, where Kesha sings of nice guys leaving her dead inside and being drawn to chaos). “GLOW.” feels quintessentially Kesha, where you can hear her renewed confidence and sense of self. On it she sings about the glow-up that emerges post break up and includes a cheeky fourth wall break. Kesha teases that her ex-lover probably won’t listen to the song because they aren’t into pop, but that the song is so good it will be loved by their mom, whom she sings directly to: “Sing it, bitch.”
There are many jokes circulating on the internet about Kesha’s new album full of bangers being linked to a struggling US economy—“recession pop,” a reference to her initial reigning era back in 2008. Drew Barrymore made the joke of learning about “recession pop” while Kesha was on the show. Kesha responded: “when I put out bangers, it coincides with people needing to party really hard.”
While . is a return to form and full of fun party anthems, the record also feels more polished, grown, even more authentic and fresh. Even the sadder tracks (TOO HARD., DELUSIONAL.) you can dance to.
The final song, “CATHEDRAL.” is a balad where Kesha sings of a return to self: “I’m finally coming home/ Oh, God, it feels good.” The album name, ., insinuates a chapter closing, a new story ready to begin.
Words by Caitlin Doherty for Staged Haze
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