Rita Ora Bio

Rita Ora, a British artist and singer. She was born Rita Sahatciu Ora in 1990 in Pristina, Kosovo, to Vera (Bajraktari) and Besnik Sahatciu. She is the daughter of director Besim Sahatciu. Her family relocated to the United Kingdom at age 1. She was raised in West London and attended St Cuthbert with St Matthias CE Primary School in Earls Court, following which she graduated from Sylvia Young Theatre School and the following year, St Charles Catholic Sixth Form College. She started singing as a child. In 2004, she appeared in the British film Spivs. She auditioned for Eurovision The Country That is in need of You on BBC One to be the British contestant in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest but , later on, withdrew from the competition after a few episodes as she didn't feel prepared. In 2007 Ora had her first music video when she sang on the track of Craig David titled "Awkward" and again in 2008 on "Where's Your Love" with Tinchy Stryder, for which she also appears in the video. Ora began to sing in bars across London. Roc Nation was told by an A&R agent about Ora in the year 2009 just days following Ora went to New York and met Jay-Z. In 2009, Ora made a cameo in Jay-Z's video for "Young Forever" and "Over" by Drake. Ora attracted the attention of Jay-Z and he shrewdly signed her to Roc Nation, in which she appeared in a commercial for Roc Nation + Skullcandy Aviator Headphones. Her father Besnik was a proprietor of a pub and she began singing in the same bar. Gwen Stefani was her major influence. Her father was a pub manager and she started singing in the same bar. Kate Moss and Ed Sheeran are friends.