Rita Ora Biography

Rita Sahatçiu Ora (born 26 November 1990) is a British singer-songwriter and actress. Her debut studio album Ora (2012) debuted at number one in the United Kingdom, and spawned the number-one singles "R.I.P." and "How We Do (Party)". After reaching the peak position as a featured act on DJ Fresh's "Hot Right Now", Ora became the artist with the most number-one singles on the UK Singles Chart in 2012. Ora has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. She was nominated for three awards at the 2013 BRIT Awards, including the Brit Award for Best British Breakthrough Act.

Life and career

Early life and career beginnings

Rita Ora was born in 1990 in Pristina, Kosovo to Kosovar-Albanian parents and moved to the United Kingdom when she was 1. She grew up around Portobello Road in West London, and attended St Cuthbert with St Matthias CE Primary School in Earls Court, following which she graduated from Sylvia Young Theatre School and then St Charles Catholic Sixth Form College. Today she lives in Kensington, London. Ora began singing from a young age. In 2004, she appeared in the British film Spivs.

In 2007, Ora had her first music release when she appeared on Craig David's track titled "Awkward" and then again in 2008 on "Where's Your Love" featuring Tinchy Stryder, for which she also appeared in the music video. She has appeared in 2 songs of James Morrison's album Songs for You, Truths for Me as backing vocal. Ora began singing in bars in and around London.

She auditioned for Eurovision: Your Country Needs You on BBC One to be the British contestant for the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest but later withdrew from the competition after a few episodes as she did not feel ready. Her manager, Sarah Stennett (CEO of Turn First Artists, who also worked with Ellie Goulding, Jessie J and Conor Maynard), later told HitQuarters that Ora had entered the competition because at the time she had felt it was her only chance at finding success. Her withdrawal followed her first meeting with her manager when she was reassured that she had genuine potential to make it as a pop star and that performing in Eurovision would hinder rather than help her chances. Stennett got in touch with Jay Brown of Roc Nation and told him about Ora. Brown asked Ora to fly out to New York where she met with Jay-Z. Ora signed with Roc Nation in December 2009, within 48 hours of her arrival in the United States. The same year, she made a cameo on Jay-Z's video for "Young Forever".

In 2010, Ora made a cameo on "Over" video by Drake as well as being featured in a commercial for Roc Nation + Skullcandy Aviator Headphones and one for CK one Lifestyle brand.

2011"2012: Ora and Commercial breakthrough

Throughout 2011, Ora released videos of herself working on her debut album. In one of them, at the request of her fans, she sung an acoustic version of Outkast's song "Hey Ya!". The video caught the attention of DJ Fresh, who at that time was looking for a voice for his song, "Hot Right Now". Ora auditioned for the part and was eventually kept on the track. The music video for "Hot Right Now" was uploaded on YouTube on 14 December 2011 and the single was released on 12 February 2012, reaching No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart. On 24 February 2012, Ora visited New York's Z100 radio station alongside her Roc Nation label boss Jay-Z, to premiere "How We Do (Party)", her lead single for North America and Oceania from her upcoming studio album. "How We Do (Party)" borrows its familiar refrain from The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Party and Bullshit". She took two years to completely finish her first studio album. will.i.am, Ester Dean, Drake, The-Dream and Stargate all worked with Ora on her debut album. When speaking about the sound of the album and its concept, Ora said it "definitely has pop in it, but (...) you can hear influences of jazz in there, you can hear influences of Monica and Aaliyah, and then you can hear Gwen Stefani". She has also stated the album will be influenced by her father's record collection which, in addition to reggae, also includes such artists as Eric Clapton and B.B. King.

Her first UK single from Ora, "R.I.P." (featuring Tinie Tempah), was released on 6 May 2012. The video directed by Emil Nava was recorded in Hackney, East London and released on 4 April 2012. Produced by Chase & Status, the song debuted at the top of the UK Singles Chart, becoming her first solo UK No. 1, and second overall. In May, Ora became a guest judge on the ninth series of The X Factor in the UK, with the auditions filmed at the O2 Arena, London.

On 12 August 2012, "How We Do (Party)" was released in UK and reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart. It was Ora's second No. 1 as a solo artist and third overall in 2012. Whilst supporting Coldplay on their Mylo Xyloto Tour, she later announced that the album would be named Ora. It was released on 27 August 2012 and debuted at the top the UK Albums Chart. Ora was nominated for Best UK/Ireland Act, Best New Artist, and Push Artist at the 2012 MTV Europe Music Awards.

From 23 October through to 30 October 2012, Ora embarked on her first headlining tour, The Ora Tour, a five-date US tour supported by MTV. She performed in Santa Ana, San Francisco, Chicago and Philadelphia. The last concert from the tour, set to take place in New York, had to be cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy. Iggy Azalea and Havana Brown were the supporting acts.

On 4 November 2012, Ora released her third single from Ora, "Shine Ya Light". The song peaked at No. 10 on the UK Singles Chart, making it the fourth top ten single for Ora in 2012. The video was directed by Emil Nava and sees the singer return to Pristina, Kosovo from where she originated, riding with a flank of bikers and gigging for excited hometown crowds.

On 14 December 2012, Electronic Arts released a press statement confirming that Ora will be a character in the The Sims 3: Seasons videogame.

2013"present: Second studio album

Ora embarked on her twelve-date UK Radioactive Tour, from 28 January through to 13 February 2013. During her tour, Ora performed a song called "Fair", which she announced will be on her sophomore album scheduled to be released in 2013. On 14 January 2013, Ora revealed that her second album would be clearer and have more direction than her first one: "I definitely know what I want more and it's pretty straightforward with what I'm trying to say with this second album". On 26 February 2013, she revealed to Digital Spy that she had been working with Dev Hynes for the second album and that the record show different angle to a "party girl". On 14 July 2013, Ora talked again about her second album, saying: "I've really built in confidence these past three years. I can't wait to be more honest on this record with my love life, the things that I like and the people I want to work with".

On 11 February 2013, Ora released "Radioactive", the fourth single from Ora.

Ora was chosen as the new face of Superga's Spring/Summer 2013 campaign.

On 23 March 2013, Ora was a guest performer at Le Bal de la Rose du Rocher, an event organized by Karl Lagerfeld in Monte Carlo in aid of the Princess Grace Foundation. Ora performed "R.I.P." and "How We Do (Party)", being later joined on stage by rapper Theophilus London.

On 30 April 2013, Hunger TV released the video for "Facemelt", the final single from Ora, which was directed by British photographer Rankin. On 14 May 2013, Hunger TV released a second version of the video (also directed by Rankin), which contains a guest appearance from fashion model Cara Delevingne.

In the summer of 2013, Ora was chosen as the new face of the "Material Girl Collection", a clothing line sold in Macy's and designed by Madonna and her daughter Lola.

Ora features on Snoop Dogg's single "Torn Apart" from his Reincarnated album. They performed the song live for the first time at the Yahoo! Wireless Festival. The video for the track was shot in January in Thailand.

Artistry

Influences

Ora credits Gwen Stefani and Beyoncé Knowles as her idols and biggest influences, saying in an interview "Do you know how much I love that woman? I love everything about her", referring to Stefani. Ora has became close friends with Beyoncé, calling Knowles her mentor, in addition to talking about her admiration at being able to have Knowles give her feedback on her debut album. Her other musical influences include Rihanna, Aaliyah, India.Arie, Christina Aguilera, Brandy, Monica, Madonna, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Celine Dion, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Vybz Kartel and Sade. Ora has mentioned her admiration for Rita Hayworth as an early inspiration for wanting to pursue an acting career. For fashion inspirations, Ora also cites Gwen Stefani as her most influential style icon. In addition to Stefani, Ora has drawn great inspiration stylistically from Marilyn Monroe and Daphne Guinness through fashionable trends in both vintage clothing and retro wear.

Personal life

Ora is of Kosovar Albanian ethnicity and speaks some Albanian while being fluent in English. She possesses a mezzo-soprano vocal range.

Ora has an older sister, Elena, and a younger brother, Don. She was named after her film director grandfather Besim Sahatçiu's favourite film star, Rita Hayworth.

Asked about her religion, Ora stated: "I believe in God and I'm a Muslim culture, but my parents never forced me. Above all, they raised me with the idea that I could make my own choices and have my own beliefs".

Previously linked with Bruno Mars and Rob Kardashian, Ora started dating Calvin Harris in May 2013.

Discography

• Ora (2012)
• TBA (2013)

Television appearances

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2009	Eurovision: Your Country Needs You	Contestant	Contestant for the honor of representing the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2004	Spivs	Rosanna
2012	The X Factor	Herself/Judge	Season 9 (London auditions judge)
2013	90210	Herself	She appeared as a guest star in the episode called "Misery Loves Company"
2013	Fast & Furious 6	Racer

Awards and nominations

Year	Organisation	Award	Work	Result
2012	MOBO Awards	Best Newcomer	Herself
		Best Female Act
		Best Album	Ora
		Best Video	"R.I.P."
2012	MTV Europe Music Awards	Best New Act	Herself
		Best Push Act
		Best UK & Ireland Act
2012	UK Music Video Awards	Best UK Urban Video	"R.I.P."
2012	Urban Music Awards	Best Newcomer	Herself
		Best Female Act
		Artist of the Year
		Best International Artist
		Best Single	"R.I.P."
		Best Album	Ora
		Best Music Video	"Hot Right Now"
2012	Mp3 Music Awards	Best Newcomer	"Hot Right Now"
2013	BRIT Awards	British Single of the Year	"R.I.P."
			"Hot Right Now"
		British Breakthrough Act	Herself
2013	Kids' Choice Awards	Favourite UK Female Artist	Herself
2013	Glamour Women of the Year Awards	UK Solo Artist	Herself
		Pandora Breakthrough
2013	BET Awards	Best International Act:UK	Herself
2013	Live Music Business Awards	Breakthrough Artiste	Herself
2013	MOBO Awards	Best Female Act	Herself
2013	MTV Europe Music Awards	Best World Stage	Herself
2013	World Music Awards	World's Best Female Artist	Herself
		World's Best Live Act
		World's Best Entertainer
		World's Best Song	"R.I.P."
			"Hot Right Now"
		World's Best Video	"R.I.P."
			"Hot Right Now"