That Keeps Resurfacing

In a July 3 interview with The Fader, Los Angeles’s own vocalist Kesha was just hours away from releasing her latest anticipated album Period, when the question came up about her collaboration with The Flaming Lips.

It was after Kesha performed in Oklahoma City in 2011 when she first connected in person with Wayne Coyne to potentally colaborate on some new “weirdo music.” In numerous interviews, Kesha has described herself as a huge fan of The Flaming Lips.

Coyne told Pitchfork in 2012 the two recorded a number of songs which then lead to her to participate in the song “2012 (You Must Be Upgraded)” for the band’s album, The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends, which was released later in April 2012.

“I like her so much because she’s just willing to be a freak. I’m around a lot of rock star people, and there’s just so much fucking pandering and drama,” Coyne said. “She’s not like that. It’s such a great relief to be around people that are so energetic, creative, funny, and into life.”

In a 2013 interview with Billboard, Coyne said the two record “as much as we are able too,” adding that he had been disapointed that “people have dismissed how good she is.”

“I mean she is genuine, and she can really fucking sing,” Coyne said.  

Coyne told Billboard he thought Kesha — like a lot artists who can hit creative limits — struggles with the idea of “why can’t I make the music that I want to make.”

Working together on music that was at times “obnoxious and funny,” Coyne said the pair started to click on a number of deep and powerful songs.

“When her and I would get together we knew we could make whatever music we wanted to make,” Coyne said.

Which brings us back to the idea that there is a long-lost album stuffed away with music created between the singer and The Flaming Lips.

Kesha told The Fader that following the conclusion of years of legal and contractual disputes she “finally feels free” to do the things she wants to do, adding she is exploring the possibility of finally releasing the long-lost Lipsha album with The Flaming Lips.

“The project, which originated from Wayne Coyne’s early belief in her talent, has become the white whale of Kesha’s fan lore,” The Fader reported.  

She’s currently looking into whether she can finally release Lipsha on Kesha Records, “but I’m not sure what I legally can do” she says.

“I think her whole creation is awesome,” Coyne said. “I really love it, and I see side of her that doesn’t want to worry about marketing that doesn’t want to worry about all the things that go into being a pop star, and just make music.”