Interview: Who Is Rita Ora?

It has only been four months since Rita took the music scene by storm by unleashing her debut singles, R.I.P and How We Do (Party) but many don't know who she is beyond the spotlight as many critics have sheltered her under Rihanna's umbrella of stardom. Speaking to Complex she discusses about working with Jay Z, Eurovision Song Contest she had participated in, her tattoos and many more. Read some excerpts below and after the jump.

Working with Jay Z:

“Working with Jay has always been an honor for me from three years ago to now. My view hasn’t changed. I’m so happy to be part of a great family and to be part of a voice that is hugely respected in the music industry and to be under his wing is just really lucky but also an amazing learning experience as an artist. I’m just around these amazingly talented people that have been doing this for a long time and to have them worry about me and stuff like that is great. I just hope I do everybody justice.

Eurovison Song Contest:

“Before I got signed, this opportunity came my way and I didn’t really know a lot about the contest. I didn’t really watch it but I thought it was my last shot. There was a time, from when I was 16 to 18, where I was like, ‘What am I doing with myself?’ I was lost and I didn’t really have that much to do. I just felt like I didn’t know what was going to happen to me so I thought that was my last chance.

Her Tattoos:

“I have the phrase ‘All is fair in love and war’ and ‘Love all, trust a few and do wrong to none.’ My sister used to tell me that. Shamrock [Social Club] in L.A. did all of the script. I have a star that I got with my best friend and we haven’t removed it because it’s a memory. Behind my ears, I have a sagittarius sign and an R for Rita. I have wings on my ankle, two wings.

Her Singing: 

“I auditioned for schools. My mom was like, ‘Alright you can sing, let’s do this.’ My mom and dad were so supportive. We went to all these schools, I auditioned and I got into them and I chose to go to Sylvia Young Theatre School. Amy Winehouse and a lot of people went there. It was a whole school of energetic, talented people. There was definitely competition but it was never harsh competition. I didn’t experience any harsh competition.”

Her Debut Album:

 “There’s been a lot of frustration. It took a lot of patience from Roc Nation. I got signed and I was like “Cool, Oprah next week.” But obviously not. I knew I was going to record the album or whatever but I was so eager to put everything out that I didn’t think about the long run. That’s why Jay and Jay Brown and Ty Ty are the best at what they do because they think in the future.

“I wanted to put as much music out as possible and it ended up being ‘How We Do’ was the US and ‘R.I.P.’ was the UK. To tell you the truth, music will convert regardless if it’s good music, it will go everywhere.

“There’s definitely some songs that show my vocal training on the album. I’ll sing however the track feels. I’m not just going to over-sing a track but there’s definitely tracks on there when you can hear my voice. There’s a song with me and a guitar and you can definitely hear my voice.”

 Roc The Life (Live)

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You can read my article on Rita Ora here.