Shit Hot: Ke$ha

23 November 2009

by Nathan Jolly

From: Nashville
Sounds Like: Cassette Kids, Gwen Stefani
Album: Animal
Key Tracks: TiK ToK, Blah Blah Blah

Did You Know:
-She vomited in Paris Hilton’s house and was removed by security
-She co-wrote a song with The Veronicas
-Kesha is in the I Kissed A Girl video

Ke$ha is proof of the old adage that you make your own luck. In fact if there is one lesson she has taken away from her childhood it is exactly that.

“We were on welfare and food stamps,” Ke$ha says. “One of my first memories is my mum telling me, ‘If you want something, just take it.’” Taking this advice in an all too literal way, Ke$ha found herself sneaking into Prince’s lofty compound with delusions that she could get him to produce her album. She squeezed under the front gate, paid off Prince’s obviously underpaid gardener with the ‘princely’ sum of five dollars, let herself in an unlocked side door, and rode the elevator up to the third floor where Prince was jamming.

“It was kind of awkward,” she says, “but who cares, right? So I sat on one of the purple thrones in the room until he noticed me, which he finally did. He was like, ‘How the hell did you get in here? His security kicked me out, but not before I left him my demo CD wrapped in a giant purple bow.” And while Prince never did contact the plucky assailant it is a sign that Ke$ha is the type to never let anything as trite as logic stand in the way of her dreams.

And when you hear her speak of it, it sounds more like destiny then drive. “I’ve always known I wanted to be a performer. There’s video of me at age five, naked and covered in body paint, saying, ‘I’m going to be a rock star and there’s no way anyone is going to stop me!’ It’s my calling. If I don’t go for it, I’m going to feel like a tool when I’m 50.”

Luckily for Ke$ha she doesn’t have to wonder ‘what if.’ Her debut album is being collaborated on by a series of proven hitmakers, such as Max Martin, who has written hits for Britney and P!nk, and Dr. Luke who has scored number ones for Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne, and Flo Rida. However Ke$ha is certainly in control of her own album.

“I want my music to be fun, unapologetic, rowdy, quirky, humorous, and interesting,” she says, “but with substance behind it. I’m an emotional person underneath all my fronting. I want people to listen to it and feel like they can relate.” Dr. Luke saw this drive and quickly brought her to RCA Records, who signed her in February. He also brought her to the attention of Flo Rida, who asked her to guest on his hit single Right Round, which soared to number one.

“When I first heard my voice on Right Round on the radio, I started screaming and crying,” Ke$ha says. “I may seem kind of crazy, but behind it all I have my shit together. I’m working really hard to make this happen and it’s nice to see that hard work pay off. I mean, three years ago I was stealing canned vegetables from the dollar store to survive. Now I’m on a number one song, working on my album, and have a little change in my pocket. To be able to take my mum out to dinner is the best feeling in the world.”