Alchemy of Pop - Kesha's Lecture
Introduction
- Speaker: Kesha, a pop star, singer, songwriter, activist, and scuba diver
- Theme: The transformative power of pop music likened to alchemy
- Purpose: To share how songwriting serves as a deep, honest exploration of emotions and experiences
Songwriting and Scuba Diving Parallel
- Diving Deep: Both activities involve exploring the depths, facing darkness, and uncovering hidden truths
- Exploration: Delving into deepest thoughts and emotions to find truth and excitement
- Honesty in Songwriting: A song must be honest to be good; hiding emotions leads to poor songwriting
Importance of Emotions in Songwriting
- Expressing Emotions: All emotions are valid and deserve to be understood and voiced
- Example - "Tik Tok": Written at age 21, during a playful, carefree period
- Lyrics were intentionally frivolous, resonating globally
- Emphasized the power of capturing and conveying pure, simple emotions
Personal Struggles and "Praying"
- 2017 Litigation: Painful legal battle over rights to her recorded voice
- Felt like losing the rights to herself
- Writing "Praying": Channeling anger and pain into the song
- First Grammy nomination and performance
- Helped Kesha and many others to heal from their own struggles
- Key Lyrics: "I hope you’re somewhere praying... I hope your soul is changing..."
Gaining Back Her Voice
- March 6, 2024: Kesha regained legal rights over her voice after nearly 20 years
- Significance: Found newfound freedom and reiterated that one’s truth is inalienable
- Songwriting's Role: Therapy, best friend, lover, drinking buddy, higher power
Call to Action
- Encouragement: Urges everyone to explore their intensity, rage, stupidity, and darkness
- Expression: Find a medium and let your truth be heard; it can heal yourself and others
- Embracing Artistic Creation: Creation involves non-judgmental exploration and childlike curiosity
New Song Premiere - "Cathedral"
- First Performance: First song premiered since regaining voice ownership
- Theme of "Cathedral": Baptism, surrender, redemption, pain, and forgiveness
- Lyrics explore personal transformation and self-forgiveness
- Emphasizes finding light and healing from within
Performance Lyrics Sample: "I’m the cathedral... Finally coming home... Life was so lethal... I’m the savior, I’m the altar, I’m the Holy Ghost"
Conclusion
- Takeaway: Whether free or not, one has the right to their truth
- Closing Note: Creation and expression can be a profoundly healing and liberating experience