Kesha dropped the dollar sign from her name in a bid to be taken more seriously.
The 27-year-old singer decided to change the stylisation of her name from Ke$ha earlier this year because she wants to be perceived as a serious recording artist rather than a "one-trick pony" party animal.
The star's friend Lady Lloyd exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "I hope she goes back to her old ways when we go out because we have a great time, but I think she's now trying to change her image because she doesn't get to release the best songs.
"On her albums, there's gorgeous ballads but she hasn't released one yet! The management [stop] her and don't her release them, but that damages her sales a bit because people think she's a one-trick pony.
"That's why she's dropped the dollar sign in her name because she's going for a bit more of a [mature] image. It's all about proving yourself and she wants people to see she can be deeper."
Lady Lloyd is relieved Kesha is doing better following her stint in rehab for an eating disorder this spring and says the 'Timber' hitmaker is fully focused on making a musical comeback now her health is in check.
The drag queen said: "I speak to her a lot, she wasn't very well recently but she's much better now. She's back on track, she's writing new songs, she's so talented, but people sort of take the p**s.
"Same with Miley Cyrus. People don't take them seriously because of the things they get up to, but at the end of the day, they write those songs themselves."
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