Gag Order cover art

  Studio Album · No. 5

Gag Order Songwriting Credits by Kesha

2023 Kemosabe / Atlantic Records 13 tracks 38 min

Produced by Rick Rubin  ·  Engineered by Jason Lader (mixing, recording), Tom Kahre (engineering), Dylan Neustadter (engineering)

Kemosabe / Atlantic Records Art PopExperimentalElectronicPsychedelic Pop
92%
Authorship
Artist

Holds writing credit on 12 of 13 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 12 / 13 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 13 tracks with documented writers, by whether Kesha carries a lyricist or composer credit.

92%
12 trackswritten by Kesha 1 trackoutside writers
Kesha's roles on this album

Share of the 13 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist92%
Composer92%
Producer92%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

13
Tracks
24
Lyricists
13
Producers
2023
Released
Data Insight

Rick Rubin produced Gag Order in its entirety, and the album represents Kesha's return to consistent co-writing, she holds a lyricist credit on all 13 tracks (the interlude "Ram Dass Interlude" has no lyricist credits). Primary outside collaborators include Stuart Crichton and Pebe Sebert for the more personal tracks, and Ajay Bhattacharyya and Jussi Karvinen for several electronic-leaning pieces. "The Drama" samples The Ramones, with Dee Dee, Joey, and Johnny Ramone credited as co-composers via the sample, making it the album's most structurally unusual writing credit.

Gag Order is the fifth studio album by Kesha, released in May 2023 on Kemosabe / Atlantic Records and produced by Rick Rubin. The album is one of her most experimental and intimate works, stripping away the electropop bombast of her earlier catalog in favor of sparse, atmospheric production that places her voice and psyche at the center. The title refers to the legal silence imposed on her during her court battles and, more broadly, to the sense of being unable to speak one's truth in a world that punishes honesty. Tracks like 'Fine Line' and 'Fine' navigate the emotional landscape between survival and collapse with unsettling candor. Gag Order was praised by critics for its artistic ambition and emotional rawness, confirming that Kesha's evolution from pop provocateur to serious artistic voice is one of the more remarkable reinventions in modern popular music.

Track Listing & Credits 13 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Something to Believe In
Kesha SebertStuart CrichtonPebe Sebert Kesha SebertStuart CrichtonPebe Sebert KeshaStuart CrichtonRick RubinTom Kahre Kesha (Lead Vocals)
2
Eat the Acid
Kesha SebertStuart CrichtonPebe Sebert Kesha SebertStuart CrichtonPebe Sebert KeshaStuart CrichtonRick RubinTom KahreJason Lader Kesha (Lead Vocals)
3
Living in My Head
Kesha SebertRoss BirchardGabriella GrombacherEverett RomanoRick Rubin Kesha SebertRoss BirchardGabriella GrombacherEverett RomanoRick Rubin KeshaHudson MohawkeRick RubinTom Kahre Kesha (Lead Vocals)
4
Fine Line
Kesha SebertAjay BhattacharyyaPebe Sebert Kesha SebertAjay BhattacharyyaPebe Sebert KeshaStuart CrichtonRick RubinJason LaderTom KahreBenny BockStint Kesha (Lead Vocals)
5
Only Love Can Save Us Now
Kesha SebertAjay BhattacharyyaJussi Karvinen Kesha SebertAjay BhattacharyyaJussi Karvinen KeshaJussiferStintRick RubinTom KahreJeremy HatcherCory Henry Kesha (Lead Vocals)
6
All I Need Is You
Kesha SebertAjay BhattacharyyaJussi KarvinenMasamune KudoCaroline PennellEverett Romano Kesha SebertAjay BhattacharyyaJussi KarvinenMasamune KudoCaroline PennellEverett Romano KeshaStintRick RubinTom KahreBenny Bock Kesha (Lead Vocals)
7
The Drama
Kesha SebertShawn EverettDrew PearsonDee Dee RamoneJoey RamoneJohnny RamoneKurt Vile Kesha SebertShawn EverettDrew PearsonDee Dee RamoneJoey RamoneJohnny RamoneKurt Vile KeshaJason LaderDrew PearsonRick RubinTom KahreBenny Bock Kesha (Lead Vocals)
8
Ram Dass Interlude
Ram Dass Ram Dass Rick Rubin Kesha (Lead Vocals)
9
Too Far Gone
Kesha SebertDrew PearsonSkyler Stonestreet Kesha SebertDrew PearsonSkyler Stonestreet KeshaDrew PearsonRick RubinTom KahreJason Lader Kesha (Lead Vocals)
10
Peace & Quiet
Kesha SebertRoss BirchardKennedi LykkenKathleen Kesha SebertRoss BirchardKennedi LykkenKathleen KeshaHudson MohawkeRick RubinTom Kahre Kesha (Lead Vocals)
11
Only Love Reprise
Kesha SebertAjay BhattacharyyaJussi KarvinenRick RubinVantaBlaqJungleKat Kesha SebertAjay BhattacharyyaJussi KarvinenRick RubinVantaBlaqJungleKat KeshaRick RubinJason LaderTom Kahre Kesha (Lead Vocals)
12
Hate Me Harder
Kesha SebertAjay BhattacharyyaJussi KarvinenKennedi LykkenCaroline PennellJustin Tranter Kesha SebertAjay BhattacharyyaJussi KarvinenKennedi LykkenCaroline PennellJustin Tranter KeshaRick RubinTom KahreLuke Reynolds Kesha (Lead Vocals)
13
Happy
Kesha SebertBlake SlatkinSkyler Stonestreet Kesha SebertBlake SlatkinSkyler Stonestreet KeshaRick RubinTom KahreJason Lader Kesha (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 34 contributors

KS
Kesha Sebert
Writer
On this album12 written
AB
Ajay Bhattacharyya
Writer
On this album5 written
JK
Jussi Karvinen
Writer
On this album4 written
PS
Pebe Sebert
Writer
On this album3 written
RR
Rick Rubin
Writer · Producer
On this album2 written
SC
Stuart Crichton
Writer · Producer
On this album2 written
DP
Drew Pearson
Writer · Producer
On this album2 written
CP
Caroline Pennell
Writer
On this album2 written
ER
Everett Romano
Writer
On this album2 written
KL
Kennedi Lykken
Writer
On this album2 written
RB
Ross Birchard
Writer
On this album2 written
SS
Skyler Stonestreet
Writer
On this album2 written

More from Kesha

2010 100%
Animal
RCA Records / Kemosabe Records
14 tracksProd. Dr. Luke
2012 100%
Warrior
RCA Records / Kemosabe Records
12 tracksProd. Dr. Luke
2017 86%
Rainbow
Kemosabe / RCA Records
14 tracksProd. Rick Rubin
2020 0%
High Road
Kemosabe / Atlantic Records
15 tracksProd. various
2025 100%
Period
Kesha Records
11 tracks

Frequently Asked Questions Gag Order

Who produced Gag Order by Kesha?
Rick Rubin produced Gag Order in its entirety, his second full collaboration with Kesha following Rainbow (2017). Rubin's production stripped away the layered electronic frameworks of Kesha's early work in favor of sparse, atmospheric arrangements centered on her voice. Engineering was handled by Jason Lader, Tom Kahre, and Dylan Neustadter.
What is the meaning of the title Gag Order by Kesha?
The title Gag Order refers both to the legal restraints that had prevented Kesha from speaking publicly about her experiences with Dr. Luke during the years of litigation, and to a broader feeling of being silenced or unable to speak one's truth. Kesha has said the title reflects the lived experience of being legally and socially muzzled during the most difficult period of her career.
Who wrote The Drama by Kesha on Gag Order?
"The Drama" was co-written by Kesha, Shawn Everett, Drew Pearson, and Kurt Vile. Dee Dee, Joey, and Johnny Ramone are credited as co-composers via a sample of The Ramones. It is produced by Kesha, Jason Lader, Drew Pearson, Rick Rubin, Tom Kahre, and Benny Bock, and is one of the most sonically unusual tracks on Gag Order.
What did Gag Order by Kesha peak at on the Billboard 200?
Gag Order debuted at number 187 on the US Billboard 200 with approximately 8,300 album-equivalent units. Its commercial performance was modest, consistent with its experimental, non-radio-friendly direction. The album received strong critical reviews despite limited chart impact.
What genre is Gag Order by Kesha?
Gag Order is classified as art pop and experimental electronic, with influences from minimalism, hyperpop, soul, dark wave, country, and gospel. It is a significant departure from the electropop and dance-pop of Kesha's early catalog, positioned closer to experimental pop than commercial radio production.
Did Kesha write all songs on Gag Order?
Kesha holds a co-lyricist and co-composer credit on all 13 tracks of Gag Order ("Ram Dass Interlude" has no lyricist credits as it is an ambient/spoken piece). Her primary outside co-writers include Stuart Crichton, Pebe Sebert, Ajay Bhattacharyya, Jussi Karvinen, Rick Rubin, and Hudson Mohawke. It is her most consistently self-co-authored album since Rainbow.
What is the runtime of Gag Order by Kesha?
Gag Order runs 38 minutes and 53 seconds across 13 tracks. It was released May 19, 2023 on Kemosabe / Atlantic Records and represents a minimalist recording approach that deliberately contrasts with the dense production of Kesha's earlier electropop albums.

Sources

Wikipedia: Gag Order (album) Genius: Gag Order MusicBrainz: Gag Order (release group) Cover Art Archive: Gag Order Cover Art Archive: Gag Order by Kesha