The return of Rita Ora

There will be no resting on her laurels when British pop superstar Rita Ora returns for a second hit-out on TheVoice Australia. “I like it a little quirky and I think you’ll see that this year because I’ve really made a conscious effort,” Ora says. “When I was on the plane coming over [to Australia], I was like, ‘What should I do different?’”

Ora’s first move is to change up her selections. “I actually fought for artists that people would be like, ‘Oh wow, that’s a bit different,’” she says. “I’m looking for tone and texture, and trying to see what will stand out in a pile of songs being played on the radio. I like style and uniqueness.”

Although she steered girl group G-Nat!on to the 2021 finale and always has a place for popsters on her team, Ora wants singer-songwriters this time.

“I wanted to challenge myself and I think that artists who chose me also challenged themselves,” she says.

“It was a lovely eye-opener.” While the champion gets a recording contract with Universal Music Australia and $100,000, Ora insists the series is about learning.

“With people of so many different ages, you want to give them that constant encouragement to keep going,” she says.