STACK #249 July 2025

MUSIC FEATURE

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FREEDOM CALLING I t’s the year’s most simple title – a single dot. In Australia, we call it a full stop. In the US, it’s called a period, which is what Kesha says the title is. Released on her own label, Kesha Kesha puts a full stop on her people-pleasing and pleases herself instead.

THE NAME GAME

Kesha’s full name is Kesha Rose Sebert.

Kesha has had 11 Top 10 singles in Australia. CHART FACT

Records, Period is the American artist’s sixth studio album, her first since splitting with RCA. She says the record is “the sound of liberation”. So, what does Kesha want the listener to take away from the album? “I just want people to get in touch with that bitch inside of them,” she says. “This whole experience has been so spiritual and healing and fun and interesting and psychological,” Kesha told SiriusXM in the lead-up to the album. “Being a Triple Pisces, I’ve been a people-pleaser my whole life, which is why this era is all about me. “This is who I am. I’m sick of trying to placate everyone around me. This is who I am. Period.” Jeff Jenkins

Period by Kesha is out Jul 4 via Inertia

FUN FACT

Kesha

Photo credit: Brendan Walter

Early in her career, Kesha drove to Prince’s house with a CD of demos. After paying the gardener five bucks, she walked straight up to Prince’s home, opened the door, and jumped in a lift. When the doors opened, she spotted Prince playing his guitar, waved the CD in her hand and then, terrified, ran out of his house as fast as she could. Hi Prince. Here’s my demo.

Kesha’s mum, Rosemary “Pebe” Sebert, was a

songwriter. She co-wrote Old Flames Can’t Hold a Candle to You , which Dolly Parton recorded in 1980.

I LOVE PEOPLE Kesha says, “I’m not gay. I’m not straight. I don’t know what I am. I refuse to be anything, really, except open to it all. I love people.”

The multi-talentedTim Minchin jumps in the Time Machine for his new album. TIME TRAVELLER

T im Minchin is a very funny man. But he stresses that his new album is not a comedy record, though he points out “there’s plenty of joy and musical foolery”. The record, Tim Minchin Time Machine , sees the artist revisit and reimagine some songs he wrote when he was in his 20s – “finally properly recorded and produced”. The album includes the live fave Rock n Roll Nerd , which, the artist says, “utterly bangs”.

ROARING JAK

The album features Jak Housden on guitar. Jak has played with The Whitlams and The Badloves.

Minchin – who started out as a cabaret pianist in Perth – is grateful to his fans for allowing him to pursue many paths. “I’ve pushed the boat out in as many directions as possible,” he admits. “And I’ve only been able to do so because of my fans. They’ve never flinched as I’ve turned corners and reinvented myself. “I’m the luckiest artist on the planet.” The album contains one of 2025’s great love songs, I Wouldn’t Like You ,

Tim Minchin

Photo credit: Damian Bennett

where Minchin sings: “ Don’t ask me to stop writing you stupid little love songs – it’s just a part of my affliction … I wouldn’t like you if you weren’t like you. ” Another song, the tearjerker Ruby , contains a message, which we hope Minchin takes to heart: “ Don’t stop writing songs. Don’t stop thinking crazy .” Jeff Jenkins

DR TIM In 2013, the University of WA gave Tim Minchin an honorary Doctor of Letters degree for his contribution to the arts. Two years later, the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts gave him another honorary doctorate, as did the Edith Cowan University in 2019.

Tim Minchin Time Machine is out Jul 25 via BMG

50 YEARS Tim Minchin is celebrating a milestone birthday this year – he will be 50 on October 7.

30 JULY 2025

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