Rita Ora Bio

Rita Ora is a British music producer and singer. Rita Sahatciu Ora was a British singer and songwriter born to Vera Bajraktari and Besnik Sahatciu in Pristina, Kosovo in 1990. Besim Sahatciu is her granddaughter. At the age of one her family made the decision to move to the United Kingdom. She grew up in West London and attended St Cuthbert with St Matthias CE Primary School in Earls Court, following which she was accepted into Sylvia Young Theatre School and the following year, St Charles Catholic Sixth Form College. She began singing as a child. In 2004, she was featured in the British film Spivs. After a successful audition for Eurovision Your Country is in need of You (BBC One) and being selected to represent the United Kingdom in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. She eventually walked out of the competition after a number of episodes, as she felt that the stage was not in good condition. Her first music release came in 2007, when she was featured in Craig David's track "Awkward" as well as in 2008 with "Where is Your Love" with Tinchy Stryder. She also appeared in the music videos. Ora began singing in bars in and around London, and in 2009 A&R reported to Roc Nation about Ora, a few days after Ora went to New York and met Jay-Z. In 2009, Ora made a cameo on Jay-Z's music video for "Young Forever" and "Over" by Drake. Jay-Z was intrigued by Ora's talent and kindly signed the singer to Roc Nation. In which Ora was part of a commercial for Skullcandy Aviator Headphones. Her father Besnik owned a pub and she started her singing career at that pub. Gwen Stefani was her major influence. Her father was a pub owner , and she began her singing career from the same bar. The actress is close to Kate Moss, and Ed Sheeran.