Rita Ora (1) 351 views 0 favorites Rita Sahatçiu Ora (born 26 November 1990) is a British singer-songwriter and actress. In 2009, she appeared on the BBC's Eurovision: Your Country Needs You where she auditioned to be the British contestant for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. Later in 2009, she signed to Roc Nation. Ora is of Kosovar Albanian ethnicity. Ora possesses a mezzo-soprano vocal range.
Ora rose to prominence in February 2012, when she provided the vocals for DJ Fresh's "Hot Right Now" which topped the UK Singles Chart. In May 2012, Ora released her debut single, "R.I.P." featuring Tinie Tempah-becoming her second number-one when it held the position for two consecutive weeks. Her debut album, Ora is scheduled for release on August 27, having been preceded by the release of a second single, "How We Do (Party)".
Rita Ora was born in Pristina, SFR Yugoslavia (now Kosovo) and moved to the United Kingdom the same year of her birth. She grew up 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. She began singing from a young age. In 2004, she appeared in the British film Spivs. 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.
In 2007, Ora had her first music release when she appeared on Craig David's track entitled "Awkward" and then again in 2008 on "Where's Your Love" featuring Tinchy Stryder, for which she also appears in the music video. Ora began singing in bars in and around London, 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. 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 signed her to Roc Nation, for which she was featured in a commercial for Roc Nation + Skullcandy Aviator Headphones.