Rita Ora is preparing to bring the heat — literally and musically — as she returns to the stage with a new single, a soon-to-be-released album, and a heartfelt commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community.
Speaking with Pink News, the pop star admitted she’d forgotten about “Radioactive”, one of the many bangers from her 2012 debut. “I forgot about that song! I need to write it down,” she exclaimed mid-interview, notebook in hand. Asked to help craft her dream setlist, she scribbled down fan suggestions like “Poison” and “Bang Bang”, before proudly listing her own hits: “‘I Will Never Let You Down’? ‘Let You Love Me?’”
At 34, Ora’s resume is a packed one — three albums, several hit singles, fashion lines, acting gigs, and reality TV judging roles. And now, album four is nearly here. “We’re literally so done,” she beamed from Los Angeles. “Now it’s just about how I’m gonna present [it] to the world.”
The new record began with a moodboard last September: “Simple, intentional, direct, sexy, unapologetic, flamboyant but not arrogant… confident, pure, real.” While inspired in part by Charli XCX’s Brat and her own past collaborators, Ora says the new project is all about self-expression, from heartbreak to high glamour.
The album’s second single, “Heat”, is a sultry, sun-drenched track co-written by none other than Troye Sivan and Leland. Ora teased that while she and Sivan won’t share a stage at World Pride, “That doesn’t mean to say there’s nothing coming… I’m sure we’re going to make it work somehow.”
She’s entering what she calls her “sexy girl era”. “It’s about me now and how I’m feeling and being in my skin,” Ora said. “Feeling carefree and sexy.” Her husband, filmmaker Taika Waititi, jokes that she’s going “back to sexy again”, but she insists, “I’ve always been sexy!”
Ora credits her queer fans for sustaining her throughout her career. “They’ve kept me in the mix,” she reflects. “Artists that came out when I came out, they’re not really around as much.” Though she’s juggled music with TV, fashion, and film, she believes her LGBTQ+ audience has stayed loyal through it all. “I’ve made mistakes publicly… but I’ve done it with a community that has always supported me.”
Her connection to Pride runs deep. Having moved from Kosovo to London as a baby, she found her tribe early: drag queens, queer friends, and all-night raves. “Those moments – you don’t forget that sh*t,” she laughs.
But this year’s World Pride feels more urgent. Speaking about recent anti-trans legislation in the US and UK, Ora became visibly emotional. “It’s heartbreaking,” she said. “It makes me so angry. I get so f**king angry… It literally brings me to tears.”
Despite the seriousness, Ora wants fans to feel uplifted. “I promise when you come to a Rita show you’ll feel accepted and safe and free to be who you want to be, with no judgement.”
She recently opened for pop icon Kylie Minogue on the U.S. leg of the Tension tour, an experience she admits was intimidating. “I don’t have an ego. I just want to connect with people and sing my music,” she said. But Kylie’s crowd showed up early and showed her love. “I was so overwhelmed with gratitude… I couldn’t believe it.”
As for any wild backstage stories? “I wish I had more interesting stories,” Ora shrugged. “We drank Kylie’s non-alcoholic wine and had inspiring talks about music and the industry.” She did confirm that “Padam Padam” — Kylie’s massive comeback hit — was originally offered to her. That’s one conversation we wish had been recorded.
With Heat out now and more on the way, Ora seems energised, defiant, and determined to make music that celebrates freedom, femininity, and community.
