Rita Ora on new music: 'I can't tell you how excited I am'
Synopsis
Rita Ora is making new music and, for the first time, says she's doing it without crushing herself under pressure. Add a harmonica tutored by Ronnie Wood, a Royal Albert Hall ambition, and the fact she still takes singing lessons 14 years into her career — and this is an artist quietly reinventing her relationship with her own craft.
Key Takeaways
Rita Ora , 35 , is recording the follow-up to her 2023 album You and I and says she is 'excited' about the new material.
She performed at the Isle of Wight Festival over the weekend and spoke to The Sun about easing the pressure she places on herself.
Ora revealed a long-held ambition to record a live album at London's Royal Albert Hall , citing Adele and Raye as inspirations.
She has been learning the harmonica with tips from Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood , and plans to learn guitar next.
Despite 14 years in the industry, Ora says she still takes singing and acting lessons and maintains a strict no-socialising rule during performance periods.
Singer-actress Rita Ora has revealed she is deep into recording her follow-up to 2023's You and I, and says the process has taught her to release the self-imposed pressure that has long shadowed her creative work. The 35-year-old artist made the disclosure after performing at the Isle of Wight Festival over the weekend.
The New Album and a Shift in Mindset
'I can't tell you how excited I am for this new stuff. I think maybe I've still got it? Can I be honest, though, it's the coolest thing to be doing this job. Sometimes you put so much pressure on yourself but it feels nice to just go with it. We are good enough, you know,' Ora told The Sun newspaper.
The admission marks a notable shift for an artist who has historically been candid about the weight of expectation she carries. Rather than chasing a particular sound or outcome, Ora says she allowed herself to 'relax into the process' — a creative philosophy she appears to be adopting for the first time in her career.
The Royal Albert Hall Dream
Beyond the new record, Ora also outlined a long-held ambition: a live album recorded at London's Royal Albert Hall. 'I love the Royal Albert Hall. I still want to do a live album there one day. It's iconic. Raye did one, Adele did one. It's just what you want to do as a musician when you grow up,' she said. The venue has become a rite of passage for British artists, and Ora's aspiration places her alongside a lineage of performers who have used it to mark career milestones.
Learning the Harmonica — With Help From Ronnie Wood
In a detail that underlines her commitment to musical growth, Ora revealed she has been learning to play the harmonica — and has been receiving tips from Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood. 'I just saw Ronnie Wood and he is incredible at the harmonica. He was teaching me certain things,' she said. She added that the guitar is next on her list of instruments to master.
Never Stopping: Lessons, Discipline, and Drive
Despite breaking into the mainstream 14 years ago — when she featured on DJ Fresh's chart hit Hot Right Now — Ora says she continues to take both singing and acting lessons. 'I still have singing and acting lessons. I never stop learning,' she said.
The Fifty Shades of Grey actress also described a strict personal code around live performances: she avoids social outings entirely when she has upcoming shows. 'When I'm singing, I don't go out. I don't do any of that stuff. I love working,' she added. The discipline, she suggested, is inseparable from the joy she takes in her craft. With new music on the horizon and fresh skills in tow, Ora appears to be entering one of the more creatively liberated chapters of her career.
Point of View
She is announcing a mindset shift. In an industry where female pop artists are routinely measured against their peak chart positions, Ora choosing to define success as 'going with it' rather than chasing a number is a quiet but deliberate repositioning. The Royal Albert Hall ambition is also shrewd — it is a venue that confers legacy, not just popularity. Whether the new music delivers on that ambition is the open question, but the strategy of lowering public expectation while raising artistic stakes is, at minimum, a more sustainable approach than the one she has previously described.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What new music is Rita Ora working on?
Rita Ora is recording the follow-up to her 2023 album You and I . She has not revealed a title or release date but described the material as 'the coolest thing' she has worked on, telling The Sun she is 'very excited' about it.
What did Rita Ora say about pressure in her career?
Ora said she has historically put significant pressure on herself but is now learning to 'go with it' and enjoy the creative process. She told The Sun : 'Sometimes you put so much pressure on yourself but it feels nice to just go with it. We are good enough, you know.'
Why does Rita Ora want to record at the Royal Albert Hall?
Ora described the Royal Albert Hall as 'iconic' and said recording a live album there is a long-held ambition. She cited Adele and Raye as artists who have done so, calling it something musicians aspire to 'when you grow up.'
Who is teaching Rita Ora the harmonica?
Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood has been giving Ora harmonica tips. She said she saw Wood recently and that he was 'incredible at the harmonica' and taught her 'certain things.' She also plans to learn guitar next.
How long has Rita Ora been in the music industry?
Rita Ora broke into the mainstream 14 years ago when she featured on DJ Fresh's hit Hot Right Now . Despite her long career, she says she still takes singing and acting lessons, adding: 'I never stop learning.'
