Kesha Releases First New Single In 4 Years

Kesha is back!

The singer, who first rose to fame with her single "TiK ToK," is releasing new music once again! Kesha (full name Kesha Sebert) dropped her first new single in four years on Thursday, July 6, 2017—"Praying."

In an essay published on Lena Dunham's Lenny Letter, Kesha, 30, told fans just how "Praying" came to be and what the song truly means. "I have channeled my feelings of severe hopelessness and depression, I've overcome obstacles, and I have found strength in myself even when it felt out of reach. I've found what I had thought was an unobtainable place of peace," she wrote. "This song is about coming to feel empathy for someone else even if they hurt you or scare you. It's a song about learning to be proud of the person you are even during low moments when you feel alone. It's also about hoping everyone, even someone who hurt you, can heal."

"This song is about me finding peace in the fact that I can't control everything—because trying to control everyone was killing me," she continued. "It's about learning to let go and realize that the universe is in control of my fate, not me."

But Kesha didn't just debut her first single since the release of her 2012 album Warrior. She also promised fans a new album, entitled Rainbow, scheduled to drop on August 11. "This is just the beginning," she told fans in her Lenny Letter article. "I've written a record that reveals my vulnerabilities, and I have found strength in that. In the past, I've always felt like I was trying to prove something, trying to be someone I thought people wanted me to be, but on this record, I'm just telling the truth about my life. This album is me. The most raw and real art I have ever created, and now it's my gift to you."

As Rolling Stone notes, Kesha's been unable to release new music for some time, as she's been involved in a messy legal battle with both Sony and producer Dr. Luke (real name Lukasz Gottwald), whom she's accused of sexual assault. In response to Kesha's allegations, Dr. Luke sued Kesha for defamation and breach of contract. While some of the lawsuits have been dropped, the legal feud still continues.

Kesha had teased the release of "Praying" with a video message on Twitter on Wednesday, July 5. "Animals, I have a surprise for you. Your support and love and kindness has gotten me through, hands down, the hardest time of my entire life," she said. "My new song, 'Praying,' is coming out tomorrow, and I couldn't have done this without you. I f***ing love you."

Welcome back, Kesha! We've missed you.