Rita Ora Bio

Rita Ora is a British singer-songwriter. She was born Rita Sahatciu Ora in 1990 in Pristina, Kosovo, to Vera (Bajraktari) and Besnik Sahatciu. Besim Sahatciu is the granddaughter of her mother. At the age of one, her family decided to move to the United Kingdom. She was born in West London, attended St Cuthbert with St Matthias CE Primary School at Earls Court and graduated from Sylvia Young Theatre School. She began singing from a young age. In 2004, she was a part of the British film Spivs. She was invited to audition for Eurovision: Your Country Needs You which was a British contestant in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. However she walked out of the contest after just a few episodes because she didn't feel ready. The first release of Ora's music was in 2007, when she featured in the track of Craig David "Awkward", and again in 2008 with "Where is Your Love" with Tinchy Stryder. She also appeared in music videos. Ora began singing in bars throughout London, and in 2009 a A&R told Roc Nation about Ora, just a few days following Ora flew out to New York and met Jay-Z. Ora was in Jay-Z's 2009 video for "Young Forever", and "Over" from Drake. Ora was noticed by Jay-Z and he quickly signed her to Roc Nation, in which she was featured in an advertisement for Roc Nation + Skullcandy Aviator Headphones. She began singing at the same pub her father, Besnik, was a pub owner. Gwen Stefani was her major influence. Her father was a pub owner and she started singing in the same bar. Kate Moss, Ed Sheeran and their buddies.