Rita Ora is due to release her currently-untitled second album in the States very soon, following the release of her 2012 album, Ora. Despite her original fears about the decision, she now says that she feels confident the album will be well received by the nation. It was these fears in 2012 that originally prevented her from releasing her debut album in the US, meaning that the new album will be the first of her albums to be released there.
“So my new record’s coming out this year: it’s my first US debut. I’m not gonna lie, I’m also a bit nervous” she said during a cover shoot for Teen Vogue. The behind-the-scenes video was recently released as a little teaser for her fan base. “I’ve worked with some people that I never dreamed I’d work with, [DJ and electronic musician] Major Lazer is on there, Prince is on there; it’s almost like I’m bringing London to America.” After taking two years to labour over this new album, the anticipation and expectation surrounding it is ever-growing.
Rita also discussed the imminent release of the big-screen adaptation of E.L. James’ erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey, in which she appears for her acting debut. In this film, she plays a woman named Mia, who is the sister of the main male character Christian Grey (played by Jamie Dornan). Although Rita felt a large amount of pressure and frequently speaks about the nerves she experienced while shooting the feature, she feels she has gained and learned a lot from the experience.
“It’s my first role so . . . fingers crossed!” she exclaimed. “It’s exciting because it’s a life that I never thought I’d understand. It’s like going back to school: you’ve got to learn lines, you’ve got to get in the mood . . . The more you are you in music, the better, but the more you aren’t you, I think in acting, the better. So it was a wakeup call for me, but it was extremely exciting and I can’t wait for it to come out.”
Rita also recently spoke about her recent breakup with DJ and fellow celebrity Calvin Harris. This was closely followed by the media, with the breakup at the start of this year being reported in many magazines, after it seemed to have ended on a rather sour note.
“Without complaining, without being moany, because this is what I have wanted to do all my life, I think it’s that people may forget I’m just a 23 year old girl who wants to be in love,’ Rita said, seeming quite emotional. “And even though I live and breathe my job, I still want someone to want me. That’s how every girl feels.”
Rita has certainly been keeping herself busy recently, with her new album due to be released in America and the UK before the end of 2014. She has also taken over for musician Jessie J on The Voice in the UK as a judge, to join fellow judges Sir Tom Jones, Ricky Martin and will.i.am. In the music competition, she is responsible for choosing and mentoring several acts over a number of weeks. A new series of The Voice will start in the UK at the beginning of 2015.