Kesha, singer and songwriter from Los Angeles, discusses her shift to more raw and vulnerable music. She talks about the distorted vocal sound in her song 'Eat the Acid' and how it was influenced by the pandemic lockdown. Kesha reflects on her life as a pop star and shares how lockdown led to self-reflection and transformative music creation. They also explore the influence of Kesha's mother on her music and discuss vulnerability in songwriting.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, Kesha's introspection and exploration of spirituality led her to write the song 'Eat the Acid,' capturing the intense emotions she felt during that moment.
Kesha's collaborative process with producer Rick Rubin resulted in the evolution of 'Eat the Acid,' reflecting her personal growth and acceptance through the song's journey from darkness to hope and empowerment.
Deep dives
Kesha's Transformation During Lockdown
During the COVID-19 lockdown, Kesha, known for her party anthems, was able to explore her spirituality and contemplate social injustice. Not touring or working allowed her the time and space to reflect, leading to a profound experience where she felt connected to something bigger than herself. This inspired her to write the song 'Eat the Acid' with collaborator Stuart Crichton over Zoom, capturing the intense and vulnerable emotions she felt during that moment. The song tackles the themes of change, introspection, and embracing spirituality.
The Collaborative Process and Rick Rubin's Influence
Kesha's collaborative process with producer Rick Rubin played a significant role in shaping 'Eat the Acid.' Rubin's interest in spirituality resonated with Kesha, and they worked together to find the right musical elements to support the song's emotional journey. They experimented with various synth sounds, drum beats, and vocals, ultimately opting to use Kesha's original voice memos recorded on her phone during the initial creative process. The song evolves from a dark and intense atmosphere into a hopeful and empowering crescendo, reflecting Kesha's personal growth and acceptance.
The Meaning Behind 'Eat the Acid'
'Eat the Acid' is a metaphorical phrase that represents Kesha's desire to maintain ignorance and blissful unawareness. However, after a profound spiritual awakening, she realized that knowledge and awareness are painful but beautiful. The song explores her journey of self-discovery and acceptance, addressing themes of spirituality, LGBTQ+ identity, and the importance of self-love. Kesha's deep connection to the song's creation and her vulnerable collaboration with trusted collaborators allowed her to convey the emotional intensity and personal growth reflected in 'Eat the Acid.'
Kesha is a singer and songwriter from Los Angeles. She put out her first song in 2009, and it was a huge #1 hit in the US and 13 other countries. She’s had 10 top-ten singles on the Billboard charts, and sold millions of albums. She got famous for songs that were about partying, and breaking the rules, and having fun. But this year, in May 2023, she put out the album Gag Order, which is a lot more raw and vulnerable. She made it with superstar producer Rick Rubin. And for this episode, I talked to Kesha about her song “Eat the Acid," which she wrote early on in the pandemic. I was really interested in the intense, distorted vocal sound that I’d heard in the track; and, as you’ll hear, it turns out most of that was a byproduct of the way she had to write and record when we were all in lockdown.