The escape from Kosovo and her family who believed in her talent. The challenge of being a pop star and a manager. The bond with her rumored new husband, director Taika Waititi, who inspired her album out in July. Rita Ora speaks to GRAZIA USA and explains that when she’s in love, she feels the need to sing it to the world.
“You Only Love Me” isn’t just the title of a hit that’s been captivating fans with its “song of the summer” energy. It signals Ora’s return to the top of the charts with her third album, You & I — a project she’s been working on for two years and that will be released on July 14. It’s already destined to find global success after the critical acclaim of her first two albums, Ora and Phoenix, released in 2012 and 2018, respectively.
“You Only Love Me” and Ora’s other recently-dropped single “Praising You,” do well to express the singer’s golden moment. The cause of happiness that resonates from the pop star during her interview, however, has a precise name: Taika Waititi, the director and producer that Ora allegedly married in a wedding that was “exactly how I wanted it,” she said in an interview with iHeartRadio.
Ora fearlessly admits that this relationship has also given her a new professional energy and inspired almost all the lyrics on the new album. It’s with the same great enthusiasm that the singer retraces the milestones and key moments of her career for GRAZIA USA, recounting dreams and hopes for tomorrow. She proves to be a tenacious and determined woman, thanks also to her personal history and the particular multi-cultural and religious dimension in which she grew up. Ora, now 32, arrived in the Notting Hill district of London when she was only 1 year old. Her family came from Kosovo, torn apart in the ‘90s by clashes that led to the war in the Balkans. Her parents made a courageous escape—but a journey is not without hardships and unknowns.
Let’s start right here, from your roots. Your father was a Muslim, economist and pub owner and your mother was a Catholic psychiatrist. Both Kosovo Albanians. How was your childhood?
“My parents have always been a gift, my greatest help, and I was incredibly fortunate to grow up with my siblings, Elena and Don, in what I consider a loving protective shell. My family members were very united about everything, and they taught me determination, grit and loyalty — all fundamental and indispensable values when you want to reach the top. I was very young when we left Kosovo for London. The events of that period of our lives are intense, sometimes moving. It took great courage on my parents’ part to face such a radical change of life in a country so different from theirs. Yet we made it and seeing where I am now is beautiful. It gives me great energy. I would not have built all this without the support of my family.”
You have millions of very young fans. What kind of example do you want to be for the kids who also follow you on social media?
“I feel a duty to inspire confidence in my fans. Over the last couple of years, working on the new album, I’ve really embarked on a journey and opened up to my audience in a way that binds us even closer, and it’s brought me so much happiness.”
If you had to choose a moment in your career that made you particularly proud, which would it be?
“In 2015, I had the privilege of performing during the Oscars. It was one of the events I am most proud of and, looking back on it now with a clear head, I can say that that performance represented a moment of growth for me. As I sang and my show unfolded in front of that exceptional audience, I thought: ‘Wow, I can’t believe I’m actually doing this, I can’t believe it’s happening to me.’”
Did you feel intimidated?
“No. On the other hand, I think that one of my best qualities is the enthusiasm I bring to situations. I’m always curious to find out what tomorrow has in store. The future, for me, is all to be built, an adventure with unknown limits. When I work on a new album, the drive I get isn’t just about what I can achieve on a musical level, but also the friendship and teamwork that’s created with my collaborators. There are always many efforts, but this is the only way I feel truly proud of what I do. I am positive by nature. I feel that the best is yet to come and that the future will still bring great surprises.”
How much of your relationship is in the song “You Only Love Me?”
“The passage speaks of situations that belong to all couples. It shows those early stages of a relationship where it’s difficult to identify with your partner because you don’t know each other well yet. It’s hard to imagine the thoughts and emotions of those we love. You wonder, for example, if the person you fell in love with decides to text you late at night is just a coincidence, because of a moment of madness, or if there is a genuine interest in you. The beginnings of a love story always has a mixture of fear and fun and this song really interprets those strong, sometimes conflicting, but always magical, feelings that I’ve also felt.”
What does female empowerment mean to you? Who are some of your female role models?
“If I think back to my childhood to all the figures I admired and who were out there trying to fulfill themselves, to assert themselves, to believe in their vision of music and art, they’re artists like Cher, Madonna, Whitney Houston, the Spice Girls. Alongside these artists, is my mother. All of them have been a great source of inspiration for me and for my career, they have given me strength and confidence with their example.”
What does it mean to grow as a singer?
“I’ve been working day and night on my new album for the past two years. I linked it to a very important theme for me: my love story. For the first time, I’m at the helm of everything you hear, from songwriting to production. I wanted this work to match my moods and feelings and to capture all the happiness I was going through.”
It takes courage to tell the public in such a direct way.
“Work like this can make you vulnerable. For the public, I put myself totally on the line. It’s a decisive album in my journey. But I’m finally in a phase where I feel ready and willing to share emotions and parts of myself that before I preferred to keep private.”
Your image and style right now is a great reflection of your happiness. What is your relationship with fashion?
“I like to use it as a way to express my creativity and individuality. It’s an indispensable tool—a way to affirm my personality. I love to experiment, I try combinations, different styles and sometimes I enjoy being daring with a look. But we have to remember that what works for one person may not work for another. But that’s exactly what makes it so fun: fashion helps us create our own style by drawing on different inspirations.”
In these pages you’re dressed in Fendi. What does the fashion house represent for you?
“For me, wearing Fendi means feeling sexy and confident. I am inspired by people like Kim Jones, artistic director of the Roman brand’s couture and women’s ready-to-wear, and creatives who perfectly understand the role of fashion as a powerful tool for building self-confidence, one that enhances and highlights the strengths of each of us. The last fashion show I attended in Paris was stunning. Kim has been able to work in an extraordinary way; I love the way he was inspired by different eras and played with materials.”
When did you discover the brand?
“Honestly, I’ve always been a fan of Fendi. Unique materials and bold accessories are the common denominator of the brand’s collections, which I always find interesting and full of fascinating details. I enjoyed working with Karl Lagerfeld in the past, we had a very constructive relationship. The commitment and devotion that Lagerfeld had for fashion was an example of how much love he brought to his art.”
Which Fendi garments have a privileged place in your wardrobe?“
“I really liked the look I wore at the Paris show during haute couture week. But the Peekaboo Cut clutch is irreplaceable. You can never go wrong with a Fendi bag.”
With your image and music, you express a model of a sensual and self- aware woman. What is freedom for you?
“It’s a concept linked to the possibility of expressing oneself and always feeling welcomed. This is true in every field and, for me in particular, it’s important when it comes to feelings. Being free to love, accepting ourselves for who we are is something I couldn’t give up. My life has been punctuated by great transformations, both in my private and professional life. And many of these changes have been decisive. Knowing that I can evolve and always be different, makes me feel free more than ever.”
How would you describe Rita Ora?
“Curious. Fearless. Passionate. Funny. Tenacious. Here, I’m like this.”
Read GRAZIA USA’s Summer issue featuring cover star Priyanka Chopra Jonas:
