Rita Ora is learning to love herself on new Lewis Capaldi-penned single How To Be Lonely: First listen review

When artist collaborations can be arranged as conveniently as sending files over Whatsapp, it’s good to see Rita Ora has taken the more traditional approach with her new single, called How To Be Lonely.

The track was written by Lewis Capaldi, who explained that after realising he wasn’t very good at singing the song he wrote – “I’m f**king s**te at this” were his exact words - in walks Rita Ora to show him how it’s done. Anyone doubting the validity of this story would do well to remember that Rita can successfully turn her hand to pretty much anything: hit singles and albums, major motion pictures, fronting global fashion brands and keeping a straight face on The Masked Singer are just some of the skills in her wheelhouse. She probably tackled this song by lunch.

MORE: View Rita Ora's Official UK Chart history

The result of the pair's face-to-face time feels like a genuine collaboration. The song’s opening guitar strums and Coldplay-sized chantalong chorus – on which Rita ardently sings about ending up on her own “almost every night” - have a gritty, growly Capaldi vibe about them - but it should be made clear that How To Be Lonely doesn’t sound like Rita doing a straightforward cover of a Lewis Capaldi song.

Mixed in with the guitar are catchy finger snaps, punchy electronic beats and some killer adlibs. We’re in proper, midtempo ballad territory here; the kind you might find yourself either quietly sobbing along to in self isolation or belting out at a bar with one hand in the air while the other clutches a rum and Coke.

If you tend to lean towards the pure pop end of Rita's catalogue, How To Be Lonely may not be exactly what you were expecting, but Rita's take on ugly crying powerhouse pop is masterfully done - as if it would even be up for debate. 

How To Be Lonely is released on Friday, March 13 and is available to pre-save now.