Rita Ora announces eagerly awaited third album ‘You & I’

Album drops this summer

Critically acclaimed international superstar Rita Ora has announced her eagerly awaited third album, You & I, set for release July 14th. It is the singer-songwriter’s first album since signing a new partnership in 2022 with BMG which will see Ora own all her future master recordings and enjoy artistic control in a way that she hasn’t had previously.

Proving to be her most diaristic project yet, Ora co-wrote every track on the album. Working with executive producer Oak Felder (Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj, Alicia Keys, Usher), Ora has created an album that has been conceptually threaded together to signify different chapters of her relationship and demonstrate what it feels like to fall in love with someone.

“This album really means a lot to me,” Ora says. “It’s like my diary of the last few years, it’s my sound and it just feels so true to me and who I am today.”

Ahead of the album, Rita Ora also released the single “Praising You” featuring Fatboy Slim. The single is a rework of Fatboy Slim’s Grammy-nominated, chart-topping cult anthem, which sampled Camille Yarbrough’s “Take Yo’ Praise” and celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

“To not only get Norman’s stamp of approval, but to actually collaborate with him and pay homage to such a massive song from my childhood was truly a surreal experience,” says Ora. “I think this record means something different for everyone, but from my perspective, it’s about praising your loved ones and really celebrating those relationships. I’m incredibly honored that we get to breathe new life into the song and re-introduce it to a whole new generation.”

Speaking of the rework, Fatboy Slim, real name Norman Cook says, “From a chance meeting late one night in the Naughty Corner at Glastonbury a friendship and collaboration grew that on paper may look unlikely. Yet here it is, and it has a life of its own!”

The single comes hot on the heels of Ora’s debut single from the album, “You Only Love Me” which has amassed 40 million streams to date and continues to grow. Ora will perform her new single live during the Eurovision Semi-Finals in Liverpool, UK on May 9th.

Buddy Iahn
Buddy Iahn

Buddy Iahn founded The Music Universe when he decided to juxtapose his love of web design and music. As a lifelong drummer, he decided to take a hiatus from playing music to report it. The website began as a fun project in 2013 to one of the top independent news sites. Email: info@themusicuniverse.com