You never connected here in the States before so people don’t understand why you’re famous here…
I didn’t release my album in the States. That’s the reason why I haven’t connected here.


There’s a lot of harsh press about you. Does it cause you upset?
Give me an example. Like what?


I saw a quiz on PopJustice from earlier this year titled “Why Do You Hate Rita Ora?”
Really?! Who hates me? What were the reasons?


Some people believe you’re successful because you’re famous, and that’s it.
I’ve headlined a tour, I’ve had several number one singles and a big album, I’ve done design campaigns and amazing collaborations. I don’t wanna sit here and talk about what I’ve done but what you’re gonna see with this new record and with time is that I love my music. I don’t read any of that stuff. If there’s one bad thing, then there’s 10 more good things. I love supporting others, I’m a nice person and I’m dedicated to my job, whatever it is. I have a good time, but I work really hard. I might not have released an album for nearly two years so people might have just forgotten how I came onto the scene. People will recognize my music this time and all those other people? Well they can just **** off.


How important is being famous to you, being seen out in Hollywood, being “cool”?
[Scoffing.] I mean, I’d like to consider myself as cool. My friends are cool, but I’m a weirdo. I’m all about weird movies and watching animations that have been made on acid, like Alice In Wonderland. I’m just honest, I don’t sit around talking for the sake of it. Some people in this industry do that and are good at it, but I hang out with the people I genuinely like, and that I hope like me back.


What do you want to prove with this album?
That I’m a credible singer who can sing. I don’t sit on The Voice and coach people for no reason. I clearly must be doing something right, right? All this negative energy, you have to block it out. I can only imagine what my good friend Iggy is going through, let alone me with that ****ing ****** PopJustice quiz. I’m lucky, I’m blessed I’m doing what I love and that I can support my family. You’re gonna see my gratitude and my appreciation on this album, you’re gonna see me complaining about all my ****** love stories, then you’re gonna see me recalling all these memories in my life: the first time I kissed a person, my first boyfriend… It’s a balance. The selective people that have written with me have seen that I’m writing about controversial things, but they understand that it’s time. It’s time for me to share it, to state the reason for why people think I’m famous.



Do you think it’s especially cruel trying to develop as an artist when you’re already in the public eye from a young age?
It’s not cruel but it’s just difficult because of the expectations, and then it’s the self-pressure, and then it’s the whole judgment of people thinking they know who you are because they know your name. It’s harder to say who you are musically once you’re already out there. But I want people to understand why Rita Ora is everywhere, and they will. In many ways, I’m a new artist debuting an album—it’s just that you know me already.