EXCLUSIVE: Kesha on breaking the cycle of bullying & fighting for what you love

2018 Billboard Music Awards – Arrivals – Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., 20/05/2018 – Kesha. REUTERS/Steve Marcus - HP1EE5K1TVMH0
2018 Billboard Music Awards – Arrivals – Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., 20/05/2018 – Kesha. REUTERS/Steve Marcus - HP1EE5K1TVMH0

International pop sensation and Grammy-nominated star, Kesha, responsible for the soundtrack to the upcoming docu-drama, ‘On The Basis of Sex’ (starring Felicity Jones as feminist hero Ruth Bader Ginsburg), spills to MiNDFOOD about bullying, the internet, and supporting women.

After her first single ‘Tik Tok’ broke records in 2010, Kesha has been gracing the top of international charts for the last 8 years, making her mark on musical history as well as influencing young women to fight for what they love.

What prompted you to team up with the anti-bullying organisation #HackHarassment?

Bullying sucks. If anybody’s gone through it, it’s terrible. I don’t wish it upon anyone but the fact that I went through it starting in school and then when I got into music, I feel like…. people have opinions on the Internet.

How has bullying changed with the internet?

I feel like it’s a dangerous place for opinions behind a keyboard and strangers giving you opinions you didn’t really ask for. I think that words matter and they mean something and I just wish people were a little more careful in how we treat each other.

How did bullying change you?

I’ve grown up a lot and I certainly have not been perfect but I try to just treat everybody with as much love and respect now as possible because it feels the best. I’ve been treated without love and respect before and it hurts your feelings. It doesn’t matter who you are and I’ve channeled that into my music a lot.

What were you bullied for?

Oh, for everything. I had purple hair. I made my own pants (laughs). They were velvet, and I mean, I still think they’re cool (laughs).

Where do you find your strength? Are you religious?

I would say I’m a spiritual person and I believe that energy is really important and intention is really important and how you treat other people is incredibly important. I believe how someone treats my mother is very telling, and not to sound cheesy or contrite, but you just kind of have to take everything one day at a time.

Has Ruth Bader Ginsburg inspired you?

Ruth took one case at a time. You make small steps to make great change but it starts with one thing. I think that if you look at making massive changes it seems very overwhelming but if you just take one small change at a time, that’s how great things are achieved.

Where is the line between being supportive and competitive?

I don’t feel like I am innately a very competitive person I just want people to be happy and thrive and I feel like the happier everybody is then the better the world is.

You have the Golden Globes coming up – that’s some stiff competition.

If you’re talking about Gaga I want her to [deleted] win everything and kill it because she’s amazing. I love Dolly Parton. I’m impressed with Dolly Parton so I like that there’s no competition from this point.

What did you learn from being raised by a single mother?

I learned everything from her. She is my hero. She’s amazing. She’s a songwriter. We write songs together all the time and she taught me to be fearless, she taught me if I wanted something that to go and get it and take it for myself and to not rely on someone else.

Did your mother help you with your songwriting?

Yes. She taught me the art of songwriting. She taught me to work hard and I think as a woman it has been great because she passed on her craft to me and now I consider myself a songwriter first which is why it’s so exciting to be a part of this as a songwriter. It’s something that no one can ever take away from me. It’s mine and as a woman it makes me feel very strong and I appreciate that so much.

When did you first start singing?

Well, I was singing from when I could talk. I learned how to yodel very young so everyone would be like, ‘Shut the [deleted] up!’ (laughs). I would just keep singing but I had to make that pivotal choice around college and then I chose to go full ahead with music.

What would you do if you were not a singer?

I could be a therapist.

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