Most people know Ke$ha as the glitter-happy pop star who brushes her teeth with a bottle of Jack and killed James Van Der Douche. But few people knew Kesha Sebert was also a massive fan of the Flaming Lips until she appeared on the Oklahoma band's recent album, The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends. And, er, donated blood for a limited-edition pressing of the LP. "I've loved the Flaming Lips since I was 16," she says. "I just really love the whole way that they make music, it's so free, and I love the attitude, the live show is amazing. I just love them and I think Wayne [Coyne] read that in an interview and said something nice back. Then we spoke on the phone and I invited him to my house. He showed up with a band full of dudes and they didn't leave my house for days." Ke$ha's second album, Warrior, continues her hot streak of sassy, party anthems but also features a melancholy collabo with the Lips, as well as Ben Folds, that shows there's more than just the electro-sleaze pop. "We ended up not sleeping and playing music for three days straight," she explains. "Now we're really good friends. I just expected him to be a magical weirdo and he was. And he told me he thought I was a magical weirdo so I think we were in great company with each other. He texts me like every fucking day."
What are you up to?
This exact moment I am trying to even out my eyeliner but it's not working. I have a wonky eye.
What are your current fixations?
My cat Mr. Peeps is the love of my life. I'm obsessed with him and take him everywhere. I take him to the grocery store, the doctor's office, into the studio, in rehearsals — I take him everywhere. He's so cute. He's my best friend and I love him.
Why do you live where you do?
I'm from Nashville and my family's here. Plus it has so much soul. It's genuinely a part of who I am and I just didn't want to move.
Name something you consider a mind-altering work of art:
Pink Floyd's The Wall. The album and the visuals that go with it were very influential on this record.
What has been your most memorable or inspirational gig and why?
I played to a crowd of about 300,000 people in Budapest, Hungary. I'm Hungarian, and it was this massive show that was one of the most insane thing's I've ever seen. I realized then and there that words have power. It was a huge deal.
What have been your career highs and lows?
I think my highs would be that show in Hungary, playing Rock in Rio, performing with Stevie Wonder and getting to work with Iggy Pop. The main lows are just when I come across online scrutiny that is mean beyond necessity.
What's the meanest thing ever said to you before, during or after a gig?
Probably when people say that I can't sing because I used Auto-tune on my first record. I wanted to set the record straight so I've put out an acoustic EP called Deconstructive.
What should everyone shut up about?
Everyone should be themselves, love themselves and mind their own business.
What traits do you most like and most dislike about yourself?
I like my cat… I guess that's not myself. I like my ability to laugh at myself, especially in this business I think it's important. I dislike how I'm overly emotional and kind of psychotic when it comes to relationships.
What's your idea of a perfect Sunday?
Having sex and eating candy. All day.
What advice should you have taken, but did not?
I don't really live like that. I live with no regrets and think everything happens for a reason.
What would make you kick someone out of your band and/or bed, and have you?
I did have to fire somebody because they ate whale when we went to Japan. That's not acceptable to me. I'm an animal rights activist. And for my bed, if someone acts selfish they will get the boot.
What do you think of when you think of Canada?
I think of giant bearded men that wear red flannels, Bell, beer and killer whales and bears. Is that pretty accurate?
What was the first LP/cassette/CD/eight track you ever bought with your own money?
I remember being obsessed with "Gettin' Jiggy With It," that Will Smith song. I don't remember if I bought it, I just remember being obsessed with it.
What was your most memorable day job?
I was a telemarketer. It was incredibly soul crushing. I only did it for two days though. I was like, "Fuck that!"
How do you spoil yourself?
I'm not the most extravagant person. I only have one car and half the time it doesn't even run. But I did buy the world's biggest bed. I had it specifically made for me because I like having slumber parties. Comfortably it fits ten people. It's the funnest place in the world. It's twice as big as a California king size bed.
If I wasn't playing music I would be…
Dead. Or I'd be a hobo.
What do you fear most?
It's not failure because I'm not afraid to fail. It's more when I'm afraid to not try something. I'd rather fail than be too scared to ever try something. Like I was really nervous to get into a room and work with Iggy Pop, who's my idol.
What makes you want to take it off and get it on?
Bearded dude, big wiener, motorcycle. With a kitten. Like if Sons of Anarchy and Hello Kitty had a baby.
What has been your strangest celebrity encounter?
One of the strangest was when I ran into Snoop Dogg during a party at Coachella at six a.m. Now we're really close friends. He introduced himself by passing a joint and I was like, "Hello Snoop, I love you. Living up to all my expectations."
Who would be your ideal dinner guest, living or dead, and what would you serve them?
I would really like to sit down and talk wardrobe with Marc Bolan or Liberace. And I would probably skip dinner and go straight to the drinking. Some sort of weird concoction made out of blueberries and whiskey.
What does your mom wish you were doing instead?
Nothing! We wrote five songs together for my new record. She's not only supportive but a huge part of what I do.
What song would you like to have played at your funeral?
I think it would be a record, Jeff Buckley's Grace. It's definitely a tear-jerker, it's beautiful and I love his voice.
What are you up to?
This exact moment I am trying to even out my eyeliner but it's not working. I have a wonky eye.
What are your current fixations?
My cat Mr. Peeps is the love of my life. I'm obsessed with him and take him everywhere. I take him to the grocery store, the doctor's office, into the studio, in rehearsals — I take him everywhere. He's so cute. He's my best friend and I love him.
Why do you live where you do?
I'm from Nashville and my family's here. Plus it has so much soul. It's genuinely a part of who I am and I just didn't want to move.
Name something you consider a mind-altering work of art:
Pink Floyd's The Wall. The album and the visuals that go with it were very influential on this record.
What has been your most memorable or inspirational gig and why?
I played to a crowd of about 300,000 people in Budapest, Hungary. I'm Hungarian, and it was this massive show that was one of the most insane thing's I've ever seen. I realized then and there that words have power. It was a huge deal.
What have been your career highs and lows?
I think my highs would be that show in Hungary, playing Rock in Rio, performing with Stevie Wonder and getting to work with Iggy Pop. The main lows are just when I come across online scrutiny that is mean beyond necessity.
What's the meanest thing ever said to you before, during or after a gig?
Probably when people say that I can't sing because I used Auto-tune on my first record. I wanted to set the record straight so I've put out an acoustic EP called Deconstructive.
What should everyone shut up about?
Everyone should be themselves, love themselves and mind their own business.
What traits do you most like and most dislike about yourself?
I like my cat… I guess that's not myself. I like my ability to laugh at myself, especially in this business I think it's important. I dislike how I'm overly emotional and kind of psychotic when it comes to relationships.
What's your idea of a perfect Sunday?
Having sex and eating candy. All day.
What advice should you have taken, but did not?
I don't really live like that. I live with no regrets and think everything happens for a reason.
What would make you kick someone out of your band and/or bed, and have you?
I did have to fire somebody because they ate whale when we went to Japan. That's not acceptable to me. I'm an animal rights activist. And for my bed, if someone acts selfish they will get the boot.
What do you think of when you think of Canada?
I think of giant bearded men that wear red flannels, Bell, beer and killer whales and bears. Is that pretty accurate?
What was the first LP/cassette/CD/eight track you ever bought with your own money?
I remember being obsessed with "Gettin' Jiggy With It," that Will Smith song. I don't remember if I bought it, I just remember being obsessed with it.
What was your most memorable day job?
I was a telemarketer. It was incredibly soul crushing. I only did it for two days though. I was like, "Fuck that!"
How do you spoil yourself?
I'm not the most extravagant person. I only have one car and half the time it doesn't even run. But I did buy the world's biggest bed. I had it specifically made for me because I like having slumber parties. Comfortably it fits ten people. It's the funnest place in the world. It's twice as big as a California king size bed.
If I wasn't playing music I would be…
Dead. Or I'd be a hobo.
What do you fear most?
It's not failure because I'm not afraid to fail. It's more when I'm afraid to not try something. I'd rather fail than be too scared to ever try something. Like I was really nervous to get into a room and work with Iggy Pop, who's my idol.
What makes you want to take it off and get it on?
Bearded dude, big wiener, motorcycle. With a kitten. Like if Sons of Anarchy and Hello Kitty had a baby.
What has been your strangest celebrity encounter?
One of the strangest was when I ran into Snoop Dogg during a party at Coachella at six a.m. Now we're really close friends. He introduced himself by passing a joint and I was like, "Hello Snoop, I love you. Living up to all my expectations."
Who would be your ideal dinner guest, living or dead, and what would you serve them?
I would really like to sit down and talk wardrobe with Marc Bolan or Liberace. And I would probably skip dinner and go straight to the drinking. Some sort of weird concoction made out of blueberries and whiskey.
What does your mom wish you were doing instead?
Nothing! We wrote five songs together for my new record. She's not only supportive but a huge part of what I do.
What song would you like to have played at your funeral?
I think it would be a record, Jeff Buckley's Grace. It's definitely a tear-jerker, it's beautiful and I love his voice.
