Fashion Icon Rita Ora slaying for Paper Mag + talks album
Quote:
NG: We should also speak about this man called Calvin Harris, who just so happens to be your boyfriend, and who you worked with on this album. Is it different working with someone that you’re dating rather than someone you’ve just met professionally? Is it easier or harder?
FIRO: It’s easier actually, because you’re in a comfortable environment but also you get a little bit shy. I got a little bit shy during our first musical bonding because he’s seen me in everything else but he hadn’t seen me in my work mode. So I was a bit shy at first, but not anymore. Now it’s fine.
NG: How many songs did you guys do for the album?
FIRO: We’ve done four, but the people on this album are just so cool, Grimmy, I can’t believe it.
NG: Hit me with it, come on.
FIRO: My single “I Will Never Let You Down” [produced by Harris] is obviously a very important song to me because it’s a love song, but it reminds you of Whitney. And that was the vibe we were on. We just wanted to feel good. You know that feeling of “How Will I Know” with the synth? It just makes you feel happy; that’s what I wanted to create. We have this amazing song “Young Dreamers” with Macklemore and it’s so cool. It’s for the kids, and it’s liberating and so fun. I did some stuff with Prince. This album was just so…
NG: Hold on. Don’t brush over Prince. Back up on Prince.
FIRO: Yeah, we did a few tracks together. I flew to Minneapolis and went to Paisley Park, which is like his iconic studios and we just made music. I was there for a week. It was the best thing I have ever done in my life.
