Rita Ora talks about her new album, getting back on the road and returning to Hong Kong
British pop star whose family fled war-torn Kosovo when she was seven, is thrilled to be touring again, and Hong Kong will be her first big gig of the year. She talks about acting, growing up in West London and her sold-out UK tour
“I’ve missed touring a lot, I’ve missed the interaction with the crowd. Even though I haven’t stopped performing – I did some duets while I was making my latest record – I definitely miss being on my own two feet and going on tour,” Ora tells the Post.
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This week’s gig, part of the Billboard Radio Live in Hong Kong series, will be the 27-year-old’s second time in the city. In October 2015, the then rising star performed at the Landmark Atrium. This time, she’s looking forward to playing a much bigger stage and plans to perform a mix of songs from her first album and her recent singles.
Born in Kosovo, Ora was barely seven years old when her parents fled because of the war. The family - including her older sister, Elena, who now works as her manager – settled in West London. As a child she played in the area around Grenfell Tower, the 24-storey public housing block that was devastated by fire last summer, claiming 71 lives.
Ora was among the first on the scene to help with the relief effort. “I grew up in that area and London has always been such an inspiring city for me, so it was devastating for me to see there was a tragedy going on. I showed my support because I have a lot of memories around that area,” she says.
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As a young teen, she told her parents she wanted to be a singer. They were initially apprehensive, but she talked them into sending her to the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London’s prestigious Marylebone. Alumni include Amy Winehouse and Emma Bunton.
“When I left school I definitely wanted to try this music thing. My mum and dad are very educated and have degrees, so they found it really scary that their daughter wanted to be a singer. I really tried to prove them wrong. My parents worked really hard to get me into that school and I hope I’m paying them back now,” she says.