Songfacts®:

• "Joyride" is Kesha's full-on celebration of independence, both musical and personal. The first single from her sixth album, the song marks a new era for the singer. It's also her first song released under her own record label, Kesha Records. This is a big deal – it's been 19 years since she truly owned her voice in the music industry.
• Kesha's newfound independence is hard won. In 2014, she filed a civil lawsuit against her longtime producer, Dr. Luke, accusing him of sexual assault. She requested a temporary injunction to release her from her recording contract with him. After a lengthy legal battle, they finally settled out of court in June 2023.
• The song is a blast from the past, a return to the synth-pop sound and talk-singing style that made Kesha a star with hits like "TiK ToK" and "We R Who We R." It's a departure from her previous album, 2023's Gag Order, which veers closer to arthouse.
• The lyrics are full of sass and attitude.
  
  I've earned the right to be like this
  Oh, you say you love me?
  That's funny
  Well, so do I
  
  Kesha is embracing her inner "bitch" and demanding a wild night on her own terms.
• Kesha wrote "Joyride" with Madison Love and Zhone, who also produced it.
  
  Los Angeles songwriter Madison Love has also co-penned hits for Machine Gun Kelly and Camilla Cabello ("Bad Things"), G-Eazy and Halsey ("Him & I") and Ava Max ("Kings & Queens").
  
  Maryland native Zhone has also worked on tracks for such artists as Troye Sivan ("Rush") and Dillon Francis ("Pretty People").
• Kesha debuted the song at Planet Pride in Brooklyn on June 30, 2024, before releasing it on July 4th. It's no coincidence that "Joyride" dropped on Independence Day in the US. It's a celebration of freedom, of breaking free from limitations and constraints. And for Kesha, that freedom extends beyond just the music industry.
• Directed by Kesha, Laura Gorun, Dimitri Basil, and Cooper Roussel, the music video for "Joyride" is a playful homage to Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill series. Kesha stars as a fiery, red-leather-clad heroine on the run from a colorful cast of villainous assassins.