INTERVIEW: Rita Ora
World, meet our latest girl crush, Rita Ora - the protégé of Jay-Z, who counts Beyoncé among her mentors and Kanye West, Will.I.Am and Drake among her collaborators. The Kosovan-born Brit frequently finds herself touted as the UK's answer to Rihanna, and has already scored a No.1 hit as the voice behind DJ Fresh's ridiculously infectious Hot Right Now. What's more, she looks set to take the charts by storm again this weekend, as she releases her new single, RIP. Our top tip for 2012? Look no further...
GLAMOUR: What IS hot right now in the world of Rita Ora?
RITA: “All these fun clothes I get to wear! It’s like dress-up every day! And I'm going to have so much fun on the DJ Fresh and Coldplay tours, playing my music in all these different cities. That's hot! And we get a tour bus.”
Rex FeaturesG: What’s your earliest memory of music?
R: “My dad playing songs by Sade and my mum playing all the hits from her time while we danced along in the living room. The first album I bought was the Spice Girls, ha ha.”
Rex FeaturesG: You auditioned for the Eurovision Song Contest, but withdrew after a few episodes – do you look back at that period of your career as a blessing in hindsight?
R: “It was fun at the time. But I knew that it wasn't right as I got further down the line. It was an experience!”
Rex FeaturesG: When and how did you get spotted by Roc Nation (Jay-Z’s record label)?
R: “I was playing gigs when an A&R in London saw me. He called up one of the Roc Nation guys in front of me and told them they had someone perfect for them and put me on the phone! He asked me to send over a demo and come to NYC to meet him and Jay-Z. At the time, I worked in a trainer store so I told them I’d only have enough money to come over for two weeks. They laughed and told me they’d get the ticket. So I went over, met the team and they signed me! And gave me a suitcase full of trainers, ha ha ha…”
Rex FeaturesG: What’s it like having Jay-Z as a mentor?
R: “I was a fan before I was signed to Roc Nation, so from that perspective he was a big influence on me first and foremost. Now, the influence is from a different angle. I respect him a lot – who better to take advice from that someone who’s had 11 No.1 albums?”
Bigpicturesphoto.comG: You’ve also named Beyoncé as someone you look to – what’s the best piece of advice she’s given you?
R: “To be yourself and listen to yourself, and coming from Beyoncé, you have to listen to her! Ha ha. She's amazing - definitely an idol of mine and such an amazing role model.”
WennG: What inspired your new single, RIP?
R: “I was working with Drake, Stargate and Chase & Status on that record, and had been waiting so long to release a track. With this, I finally I felt like I had evolved into this new woman. It is more like a statement that ‘I'm ready! Let's go! Let's do it!’ I think a lot of women can relate to that moment of courage, whether with a man or career or in life.”
G: If you had to describe your trademark sound to an alien who had never heard pop music before, what would you tell them?
R: “It just makes you move your body with the beat, and hopefully sing when I sing! It’s catchy, sometimes bouncy, sometimes you can jam to it and chill, and sometimes just have a party. It’s fun. We could all do it together - have an alien and human sing-and-dance-off.”
Rex FeaturesG: Talk us through your three favourite tracks from your new album…
R: “Roc The Life is a song I wrote with The Dream, who made Umbrella, Single Ladies and loads more. When we were writing the lyrics they came out like a rap… There is a real flow to the lyrics. It’s about enjoying ourselves and whatever we’re doing – making sure we do it to the fullest. RIP, of course, because it’s about a woman being brave, coming to a new stage in her life and taking control. Party And Bullshit was inspired by Biggie! I love it as, for me, it shows a unity in having a good time, which you know everyone can relate to. It’s all about sharing good times together.”
Rex FeaturesG: When can we expect to hear it? Details, details!
R: “End of summer!”
Bigpicturesphoto.comG: Who did you love working with more – Drake, Kanye West or Will.I.Am?
R: “I was blessed to work with all of them, even to meet them! There's no way I could choose, as they all inspire me in different ways. I'm just so happy that we all got on and could come up with something.”
Rex FeaturesG: Which female artists do you most look up to?
R: “Madonna for her bravery and always being so cool. Beyoncé for her hard work and professionalism, not to mention her amazing voice and talent.
Gwen Stefani's style and flow I just love. She is sooo cool to me! Sade for the way she's so simple and can evoke emotion so easily. There are loads.”
WennG: What labels do you love to wear?
R: “I wear a lot of things! Some young labels to bring out my tomboy side like Trapstar and Billionaire Boys Club. Then the more sophisticated side, like Helmut Lang and Chanel and Calvin Klein. I love masculine cuts with suits and chunky jewellery. My hair is so glam it balances it out, and it’s comfy! I'm in love with my Christian Louboutin lace-up flats at the moment, too.”
Is creating your own line something you’d like to try your hand at in the future?
R: “I would love to! That would be so much fun, I think any girl would love their own label! We all look in our wardrobe and think ‘I wish I had this to wear right now, that would be perfect!’”
Bigpicturesphoto.comG: Stars make a lot of mistakes on their way up – what’s the one celeb error you hope to avoid repeating?
R: “Not wearing underwear! I have to keep buying new underwear everywhere I go on tours because we have no time to do the laundry, ha ha. But I won't forget those! Otherwise I just wanna enjoy myself and remember to always have fun.”
PA PhotosG: We want some awesome new music! Who can you recommend us to check out?
R: “I love all types of music! Right now I'm listening to SBTRKT and loads of bashment, like Movado and Demarco and people like that. I can't wait for Plan B's new album as well. And loads of Drake and Nelly Furtado’s new album. So much exciting stuff everywhere!”
