Rita Ora
Rita Ora | |
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File:Rita Ora.jpg | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Rita Sahatçiu Ora |
Origin | Pristina Kosovo[A]) [1] |
Genres | R&B, pop, neo soul |
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, actress |
Instrument | Dramatic Mezzo-Soprano |
Years active | 2004–present |
Labels | Roc Nation |
Website | rocnation |
Rita Sahatçiu Ora (born November 26, 1990) better known as Rita Ora, is a Albanian British mezzo-soprano, recording artist, and actress. Rita Ora is signed to Roc Nation. She is of Kosovar Albanian ethnicity.
Biography
Early life and career beginnings
Rita Ora moved to the United Kingdom the same year of her birth. She grew up in 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. She began singing from a young age.[2][3] In 2004, she appeared in the movie Spivs.[4] She auditioned for Eurovision: Your Country Needs You on BBC One for the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest[5] and qualified, but later withdrew from the competition as she did not feel ready.[citation needed]
In 2007, Ora had her first taste of music when she appeared on Craig David's track entitled "Awkward"[6] and then again in 2008 on "Where's Your Love" featuring Tinchy Stryder, for which she also appears in the music video.[7] Ora began singing in bars and in 2009 a A&R told Roc Nation about Ora, a few days after Ora flew out to New York and met Jay Z.[8] In 2009, Ora made a cameo on Jay-Z's video for "Young Forever" and Over by Drake. Ora caught the attention of Jay-Z and he quietly signed her to Roc Nation, in which she was featured in a commercial for Roc Nation + Skullcandy Aviator Headphones.[9][10] She has been predicted as a Future Star by This Must Be Pop.[11]
2011–present: debut album
Throughout 2011, Ora released viral videos of herself working on her debut album.[12]
On December 14, 2011 Ora released "Hot Right Now" (featuring DJ Fresh) on YouTube. The video has had almost 10,000,000 views.[13]
She has been recording her first studio album for two years Will.I.Am, Ester Dean, Drake, The-Dream, and Stargate are all working with Ora on her debut album.[14][15] Ora spoke on working with Drake on her debut saying “He’s given me some great songs which I was honored to take.”[16] When Ora spoke on the album she said "The crazy thing is I wanted the album to sound exactly like the subway, almost as if its just so free and raw".[8] She also announced that a British artist would be the only feature on the album, stating There's only one feature, a British artist. It's nice to keep in our little British family. The artist was later revealed to be rapper Tinie Tempah. Rita has also been working with Kanye West saying, “Kanye is very much a genius. He’s a talent beyond belief,” shared Rita. “We’ve done some things together, but I might save it for the next album.” Ora spoke about the sound of the album and her main influences for it. “It definitely has pop in it, but I love soul music and I love my jazz music and I love all genres,”. “You can hear influences of jazz in there, you can hear influences of Monica and Aaliyah, and then you can hear Gwen Stefani.”[16]
In a interview Ora confirmed some or the titles of the tracks to be featured on her debut. The first she confirmed was Rock the Life "which is about having no boundaries in life" , the single song Love at War "it's a very simple track, it's literally just a beat and my voice".[17]
On February 24, 2012, Ora visited New York's Z100 radio station alongside her Roc Nation label boss Jay-Z, to premiere "How We Do (Party)," her debut single and the lead single from her upcoming studio album. "How We Do (Party)" borrows its familiar refrain from The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Party and Bullshit".[18]
Ora released R.I.P featuring Tinie Tempah as her first UK single. R.I.P was written by Drake and produced by Chase & Status.[19] The video was recording in Hackney, East London.[20]
Artistry
Influences
Ora sites Gwen Stefani as her biggest influence, saying in a interview “Do you know how much I love that woman?” "I love everything about her". She also classes Beyonce Knowles as a major influence and a mentor, saying that both Knowles and Gwen Stefani are her two main role models and spoke of her admiration at being able to have one of her idols (Beyonce) give her feedback on her debut album.[15] She also said in a interview " I love Vybz, I listen to a lot of dancehall".[8]
Discography
Singles
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AUS | BEL (FLA) | IRE | UK [21] | ||||
"How We Do (Party)" | 2012 | — | — | — | — | Albi | |
"R.I.P." (featuring Tinie Tempah) |
— | — | — | — |
As featured artist
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AUS | BEL (FLA) | IRE | UK [21] | ||||
"Where's Your Love" (Craig David featuring Tinchy Stryder and Rita Ora) |
2008 | — | — | — | 58 | Greatest Hits | |
"Hot Right Now" (DJ Fresh featuring Rita Ora) |
2012 | 99 | 11 | 17 | 1 | TBA | |
"—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory. |
Guest appearances
Title | Year | Album | Artist |
---|---|---|---|
"Awkward" | 2007 | Trust Me | Craig David |
Music videos
Title | Year | Director(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
"Where's Your Love" | 2008 | Steve Kemsley | [7] |
"Hot Right Now" | 2011 | Rohan BM | [22] |
Cameo appearances
Title | Year | Director(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
"Young Forever" (Jay-Z featuring Mr Hudson) |
2009 | Anthony Mandler | |
"Over" (Drake) |
2010 | [23] |
Filmography
Film | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
2004 | Spivs | Rosanna | First acting role |
Television | |||
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 |
References
- ^ "Persistance Patience". Hypetrak. February 2012.
- ^ SoulCulture. "Skullcandy Roc Nation Aviators Presents: Rita Ora | Video". Retrieved 2011-08-12.
- ^ "Rita+Ora Last.fm profile". Retrieved 2011-08-12.
- ^ Rita Ora IMDb page. imdb.com. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
- ^ "Rita Ora - Your Country Needs You!". YouTube. 2010-09-22. Retrieved 2011-04-03.
- ^ "Craig David - Awkward". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-04-03.
- ^ a b Where's Your Love - Craig David ft Tinchy Styder and Rita Ora. Youtube. July 30, 2011.
- ^ a b c "Rita Ora EPK". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
- ^ "Skullcandy & RocNation / Aviator Headphoness". Skullcandy.com. Retrieved 2011-04-03.
- ^ Roc Nation + Skullcandy Aviator Headphones cast Rita Ora. YouTube. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
- ^ "This Must Be Pop brings you Future Pop! (Issue #05)". thismustbepop.com. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
- ^ "Roc Nation artists - Rita Ora". Roc Nation, LLC.
- ^ "DJ Fresh ft. Rita Ora - Hot Right Now (Official Video) (Out Now)". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
- ^ "New Music: Ester Dean - "Let It Grow (Celebrate the World)"". rap-up.com. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
- ^ a b "Rap-Up TV: Rita Ora talks roots, Roc Nation, & Rolling with Jay-Z and Beyonce". rap-up.com. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
- ^ a b "Rap-Up TV: Rita Ora dishes on debut, working with Drake and Kanye West". rap-up.com. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArqSeE_mURU&feature=player_embedded#!
- ^ "New Music: Rita Ora – "How We Do (Party)"". rap-up.com. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
- ^ "New Music: Rita Ora F/ Tinie Tempah – "R.I.P."". rap-up.com. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
- ^ "Watch: Rita Ora Talks 'RIP' Video, Drake & Ex- Girlfriends". thatgrapejuice.net. 14 March 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
- ^ a b Where's Your Love official charting. Chart Stats.
- ^ Hot Right Now (Official Music Video)
- ^ Wete, Brad (Monday, April 12, 2010). "Drake's new 'Over' video: Watch it here". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved Tuesday, November 1, 2011.
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Notes
a. | ^Template:Kosovo-note |