The highly-anticipated second studio album by Rita Ora is in the making. The Roc Nation star is ready to bring some new music to delight all her fans. The awaited new album is planned to be released sometime this year via Atlantic Records and Warner Music.
This album’s journey started early 2014 when the singer posted a picture on Instagram with a simple ‘O‘ as part of her new logo, inspired by the iconic style letter ‘R’ by Rihanna, and used as the new logo on the artwork of the lead single from this project “I Will Never Let You Down“, released on March 31 same year.
The second single was the track “Get a Little Closer“, but it was finally canceled. Rita also confirmed a few details about the project. She said:
I’m very excited about this new album. There are people on it who I would never even have dreamed of: JAY Z and Prince for example.
Ora also worked in the studio with Chicago-based rapper Vic Mensa. The singer also confirmed on Instagram that she worked in the studio with will.i.am.
Ora recorded a track called “A Little More“, as part of 2014 DKNY’s perfume campaign. During the official presentation in New York, the singer said that the album will finally be released in January 2015. But finally, it did not happen.
The singer announced another track called “Grateful“, written by Diane Warren. The song was the main theme on American romantic drama film “Beyond the Lights“, directed and written by Gina Prince-Bythewood. It was nominated for Best Original song at Academy Awards 2015.
Yahoo! also unveiled the first preview of Ora’s anticipated Prince collaboration called “Ain’t About 2 Stop“, which was premiered through an exclusive video during her studio recording in Paisley Park on 1 October 2014. The song was finally included on Prince’s latest album “HITNRUN (Phase One)“, released on September 7th.
In late 2014, Ora confirmed a Diplo-produced track called “Testosterone” as next single, but once again, it was finally scrapped.
The second official single “Poison“ was finally released on digital retailers on 18 May 2015. During an interview with NOISEY, Ora also confirmed an upcoming collaboration with Ed Sheeran. She said:
It’s really about how we get judged for the things that we do and how men don’t. I know it’s part of society, but I think we can still stick together as females. And also, I feel like, at the moment, females have never been closer—pop stars, specifically. It’s an exciting time for females in this industry
During an interview with Refinery29, Ora described the album as “It has a darker, more sexual tone to it, and I guess it’s more blunt“.
The third official single from the album was the track “Body On Me“, featuring Chris Brown, which was launched on digital retailers and streaming services on 7 August 2015.
Later the same month, Ora gave some new details about the project. She said:
On this second album I’ve put my blood in it, literally. The album was my resurrection. I got myself together. I had amazing people around me. I went back to the drawing board and started writing with them. So this album I wanna be the rock star that I always was. I have to fight every day. I still have to grind
During an interview with Evening Standard, Rita confirmed that her awaited album has been delayed until next year (2016). Ora also said she is frustrated by how her love life overshadows her music.
On an interview with ITV, Rita confirmed she worked with Meghan Trainor in some new music. In April 2016, Meghan revealed during an interview with The Sun that the song she penned by Rita’s album is called “Sugar Daddy“.
In July 2016, she signed a new deal with Warner Music and probably lost all her songs recorded before that, on the lawsuit against her old labels Roc Nation and Columbia Records.
Rita has recorded new music with Charli XCX, Stargate, Diana Gordon, BloodPop, Rodney Jerkins and others. During an interview with Standard, she confirmed that her album, after all the delays and scrapped projects, will be finished in October. She said:
I’m desperate to get my music out. I think I’m now at a point in my life where I have a new amazing label, we really have taken it to the next level. It’s very song-based. It’s very real — real instruments, believable lyrics. I’ve not only grown as an individual but as a woman. People are going to see that. I’ve been a whirlwind but I’ve honestly been living my dream. I was living in New York for three months filming America’s Next Top Model, now I’m in London for two months recording every day with my dream team. Then I fly to LA in October to finish the album
During a recent interview with The Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Nick Grimshaw, Ora has confirmed that new music will be available in February and also premiered a snippet of new track on her phone.
