Why Rita Ora is launching her world tour in Australia

British pop star Rita Ora has revealed why she chose to kick off her world tour in Australia after being stuck in music limbo for so long.

After the recent Super Bowl, many fans hit the interwebs to find out the song which soundtracked a Bumble ad featuring Serena Williams.

Advocating a female empowerment message — for a social and dating platform — the music underpinning the message was Soul Survivor, the final track on Phoenix, the comeback album by British pop star, actor, television presenter and fashionista Rita Ora.

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“That’s one of my favourite songs from my album Phoenix,” Ora says on the eve of her first Australian tour.

“I think the message of that song came across so brilliantly with Serena. It’s all about surviving, not letting people stamp on you and coming through as a survivor.

“I couldn’t have thought of anyone better to be an example of the message of that song.”

There is so much delicious irony in a Rita Ora song soundtracking a Serena Williams ad, for those who like playing Celebrity Six Degrees of Separation.

The song is all about Ora’s battle over several years to extricate herself from the label Roc Nation, the record, publishing and management company co-founded by Jay-Z.

Of course the other half of one of music’s most influential power couples is Beyonce, who happens to be mates with Williams.

Ora’s Phoenix album was declared worth the wait by fans and critics. Picture: Supplied.

The revenge song pulls no punches about Roc Nation stalling her efforts to release the follow-up record to her 2012 debut album Ora.

“It’s been seven long years fighting for your attention

Manipulated by fear and misdirection

Wrapped in your ugly chains, swore you’d rise me to heaven

Brought me nothing but pain, was that your intention?”

It would have made sense for Soul Survivor to open Phoenix, released last November to a strong reception from both her stalwart fans and critics, who declared it “worth the wait”.

But it almost didn’t make the cut.

“I really went back and forth with that. I wanted the first track to represent the new me and not dwell on the past,” she says.

“But I loved that song so much that at the last minute I told everyone we just couldn’t leave it off so it ended up being at the end.”

Ora has become a successful actor and presenter while waiting to get back in the studio. Picture: Supplied.

Most artists you could name will have a similar story about the song that almost didn’t make it.

After weeks, months or even years of working on a record, it must be an emotionally fraught task to decide on a track listing from dozens of recorded tracks.

“It’s very funny that every artist has a story like that,” Ora says.

“When you are in process of picking the tracks, you have probably been living with the songs for so long, you write more songs and you start questioning yourself, doubting your first instincts.

“So at the last minute, you will always think ‘I’ve got to follow my gut’.”

Ora has chosen to open her Phoenix world tour in Australia.

Ask her about the show’s design and production and she is vague on the details.

Ora, who has a strong live vocal and is a natural pop performer as evidenced by her star turn at the ARIA Awards in November, prefers to talk about the concert experience in terms of “having fun”.

Ora was a special guest at the ARIA Awards in November. Picture: Christian Gilles

You can understand the reticence to get too specific ahead of fans seeing her in action. Australian pop fans are a tough audience and quick to compare.

But the British chart-topper who has plenty of big-gig experience isn’t trying to be Beyonce. She really is a pop girl who just wants to have fun.

Ora recently posted that she and mate Mark Ronson checked out the Lady Gaga show in Las Vegas. When asked if she picked up any ideas, she said she went as a fan.

But the performer does admit it was both challenging and exciting to start with a blank slate when it came to devising her first world tour show.

“I started with the band and the music. I wanted the music to be tight,” she said.

“I wanted this to mark a transition to a new era in my life as a musician, as a singer and a female in the pop industry. But sometimes it’s not really that hard when all you want to do is have fun, a really good time with the fans.”

Ora loves a frock. Picture: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images.

She is armed with a strong set of pop bangers, stretching from her early hits such as How Do We (Party) and I Will Never Let You Down to Your Song and Let You Love Me.

And, as a regular red carpet scene-stealer in designer gowns, you just know the costumes are going to be something. But she isn’t going to tell you the names behind her Phoenix outfits.

“The costumes are fantastic, awesome,” she says.

“I definitely approached other people and used their incredible expertise; I’m incredibly lucky to have some amazing designers who want to work with me.

“It’s usually the fun part. You gotta come to the gig to find out about the costumes.”

As to why Ora chose Australia to kick off the tour, she is far more emphatic.

She wanted to reward the loyalty of her fans here during her battle to get that second record out there.

While she couldn’t release an album, Ora continued to have hits here courtesy of featuring on other artists’ singles including Black Widow with Iggy Azalea, Doing It with Charli XCX and Avicii’s Lonely Together.

“I have become so touched by Australia and I love my fans over there,” she says.

“As cheesy as it sounds, everything I’ve been through has taught me the biggest lesson is to never give up. And remember why you do this.

“I do it for the feeling music gives me; to feel fantastic and free. You just have to remember how awesome it is to go out on a stage and perform and hear people singing your words go back to you. You just have to keep reminding yourself of those moments.”

Rita Ora performs at Palais Theatre, Melbourne on March 1, Big Top @ Luna Park, Sydney on March 2, Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane on March 5 and Metro City, Perth on March 7.