Question Time with Ke$ha

I’m turning into quite the celebrity hanger-on – it’s one popstar interview after another around here at the moment! The latest to be subjected to my questioning is Ke$ha, an up-and-coming American singer whose career I’ve been excitedly following for about a year now. I loved her songs Boots and Boys and Backstabber, but only now are we getting to know what Ke$ha’s all about. Her new single Tik Tok is already in the iTunes top 10 in America and I’m sure it’ll soon be doing just as well in the UK. She’s over here to tour with Calvin Harris and promote the single, so I caught up with her to find out more…

We know you’ve worked with pop geniuses like Dr Luke and Max Martin on your new album. Are there any other exciting collaborations you can tell us about?
I collaborated with Pitbull recently, and I worked with Nicky Avalon. I’m touring with him in the States. I also duetted with Taio Cruz on a song called Dirty Picture, and on my album I’ve worked with the keyboard player from Scritti Politti and Greg Kurstin, who’s done some stuff with Lily Allen. I wrote some songs with my mom as well. Pretty much everyone I’ve worked with has been exciting!

Is your mum a singer too?
She used to be, now she’s an amazing songwriter! She helped me figure it out.

Will the earlier songs like Boots and Boys and Backstabber also appear on the album?
I think so! I definitely think they’ll stay on the record. Those are my babies!

There are lots of feisty female popstars in the charts at the moment, so who do you see as your biggest competition or your biggest inspiration?
I don’t really think of it as competition, but it’s amazing that there are others strong females doing fun music, it doesn’t have to be cookie cutter, bland, vanilla pop anymore. I’m excited to be in the same genre of music as those others. I listen to older music and a lot of country music, so I’m not up on what’s the hottest of the hot in the pop world.

Is your family much like the one featured in your video?
No, it was just for fun. My family’s totally crazy! Just as free-spirited as I am, and just as eccentric, and rambunctious and hilarious. They’re a lot of fun!

When you were trying to break into the music business, did you ever consider auditioning for a talent show like American Idol?
No, cos I write a lot of my own music. That’s all about voice and looks and I feel like I bring different things to the table than just that. I really wanted to be able to represent my own writing and my own personal style.

Have you been to London before? What do you think of the UK so far?
I love it over here! I would definitely consider having my own place here. You guys have so much cooler shit than we do in the States!

Are there any British singers or bands you like to listen to at the moment?
Yeah! All the music here is brilliant. I just went to the Q Awards, and I met Robert Plant, who is one of my idols. Amy Winehouse was there too. As for British bands, I love Kasabian. You guys definitely know what’s up, way more than Los Angeles!

And finally, I’m coming down to your showcase tomorrow night, so I wondered what we can expect? How do you plan to make sure everyone there remembers you?
I have two words for you: glitter canon! All I want people to remember when they think of me is glitter.