Putting the past behind her, Kesha is moving forward as she opens up about her bisexuality, rediscovering happiness and getting her big-dick energy back

Words Thomas Stichbury

Photography Dana Trippe

You can almost hear Kesha’s eyeballs begin to roll as I pretend to reach into my satchel for a toothbrush and a bottle of Jack Daniel’s – a shoutout to the former wild child’s wake-up-whiskey-rinse-and-go routine from her smash song Tik Tok.

“Oh no, don’t,” she sighs dramatically. I assure her that I wouldn’t dream of pulling such a stunt. I decide to save the untouched, brownbag- wrapped JD for another day. (Or try to put it on expenses).

“You don’t know how many times that has actually happened to me. At least every interview I’ve done since Tik Tok came out 10 years ago,” she says. “I also had to do it for countless photo ops.

“You should try it before you put this into writing. It’s your homework.” Hmmm, I think I’ll stick to my special enamel protection toothpaste — sensitive teeth, just so you know.

Spreadeagled on a leather sofa in the living area of a luxury apartment in London’s Mayfair, the 32-year-old pop star is channelling what can only be described as toddler chic, wearing a faux-fur tiger-print coat, a pair of pyjamas emblazoned with the words Fuck You – we’re assuming these aren’t a Marks & Spencer number – and a sun visor. For a bit of context, it’s a rain-sodden evening.

“I’m very ‘five-year-old’ today,” she grins, adding that her eclectic wardrobe is far from travel-friendly. “I always find that something explodes and it’s usually glitter. It gets over everyone’s everything, then they’re like, ‘Fuck you!’ and I’m like, ‘Sorry’.” Spirit undampened by the soggy weather outside, Kesha is a welcome warm front of energy, mischievousness and sass, blown in fresh from over the Atlantic. And she’s feeling mighty fine right now, having dyed her trademark blonde tresses a chestnut brown.

“I never thought in a million years I would be a brunette, and I’m having so much fun,” she exclaims. “I feel like very big-dick energy.”