Bang (Rita Ora and Imanbek EP)
Bang | ||||
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EP by | ||||
Released | 12 February 2021 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 11:24 | |||
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Producer |
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Rita Ora chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
Singles from Bang | ||||
Bang is the first extended play (EP) by British singer Rita Ora and Kazakh DJ and producer Imanbek. It was released for streaming and digital download on 12 February 2021 by Atlantic Records UK and Warner Music UK. The EP is Imanbek's first. They collaborated with guest musicians, including French DJ David Guetta, American rapper Gunna and Argentine trap artist Khea. It was preceded by the release of lead single "Big", which features both Guetta and Gunna.
Background and production[]
Ora and Imanbek worked on the project in the months leading up to its release.[2] Bang was officially announced on 4 February 2021 as a joint extended play (EP) between Ora and Imanbek. Almost a year had passed since Ora's last release, the 2020 single "How to Be Lonely",[3] and Imanbek's most recent release was the joint single "Goodbye" with English house trio Goodboys on 18 December 2020.[4] In an article for Official Charts Company, Rob Copsey described the EP as "a mix of modern pop, 80s and 90s club culture and floor-filling house".[3] The EP was written and produced digitally over Zoom, with Ora saying "[we were] looking to develop creative connections with other artists, it's amazing how much technology allowed our connection to shine through". In the same article, Imanbek said, "it was really fun to work with on the project in such a creative way. The project brought us together not only creatively but personally and that was a great experience."[3] Further elaborating on the experience, he said "[Bang] was a globally collaborative project including some of my favourite artists and producers." Translators were used to help the artist and producer to collaborate due to language differences.[5][6]
Critical reception[]
In writing for EDM.com, Cameron Sunkel described Bang as an "offering of sleek club sounds perfect for a night out". He asserted that the collection does not disappoint; "the outset, the EP's opener, 'Big,' seeks to make a decisive statement with flashy lyrics and an even sleeker club bassline." He praised the track "Mood" for displaying Ora's versatility, saying "she weaves effortlessly between soulful delivery and quick cutting rap as she trades verses with Argentinian trap artist Khea".[7]
Promotion and singles[]
A short film titled Bang (The Official EP Film), filmed in Bulgaria, was released on 12 February 2021 and incorporates the songs "Mood" (featuring Khea), "Big" (featuring David Guetta and Gunna) and an acoustic version of "Bang Bang".[8]
"Big" was released as the EP's lead single. The music video, shot in Pernik and on the Buzludzha monument, features a handmade Albanian traditional outfit designed by Kosovan designer Valdrin Sahiti, as well as tributes to both Ora's Albanian and Imanbek's Kazakh heritages.[9] Talking about the video, Ora said:
I've done a lot of music videos so far in my life and this is by far the hardest and most thrilling music video that I have ever done... there's a lot of locations, a lot of cold temperatures. I really wanted to do something visually unique and create a fantasy wonderland movie.[9]
Ora, then based in Australia, performed "Bang Bang" on series thirteen of ITV's Dancing on Ice on 14 February 2021.[10] She later performed the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on 3 March 2021 and a day later on Australian breakfast show Sunrise.[11][12]
Track listing[]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Big" (with David Guetta, featuring Gunna) |
|
| 2:36 |
2. | "Bang Bang" |
|
| 2:59 |
3. | "Mood" (featuring Khea) |
|
| 3:24 |
4. | "The One" |
| Imanbek | 2:25 |
Total length: | 11:24 |
No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Big" (acoustic) (with David Guetta) |
| 2:40 |
2. | "Bang Bang" (acoustic) |
| 3:05 |
3. | "Mood" (acoustic) (featuring Khea) |
| 3:23 |
4. | "The One" (acoustic) |
| 3:05 |
Total length: | 12:13 |
- Notes
- "Bang Bang" samples the composition "Axel F" by Harold Faltermeyer.
Credits and personnel[]
Credits adapted from Tidal.[13]
Artists[]
- David Guetta – co-lead artist (track 1)
- Gia Koka – background vocals (track 2–3)
- Gunna – featured vocals (track 1)
- Imanbek – co-lead artist (track 1–4)
- Jeremiah Jhauw – background vocals (track 2)
- Khea – featured vocals (track 3)
- Koda – background vocals (track 4)
- Rita Ora – co-lead artist (track 1–4), lead vocals
Musicians[]
- Morgan Avenue – producer (track 3), arranger (track 3), engineer (track 3)
- William Spencer Bastian – producer (track 1), programmer (track 1)
- Yvan Bing – engineer (track 1)
- Leslie Brathwaite – mixer (track 1, 3)
- Toby Green – producer (track 1)
- David Guetta – producer (track 1), programmer (track 1)
- Mike Hawkins – producer (track 1)
- Joe Hike – producer (track 2), bass (track 2), programmer (track 2), sound designer (track 2)
- Imanbek – producer (tracks 1–4), programmer (track 1, 4), mixing (track 4)
- Jeremia Jones – producer (track 3), arranger (track 3), bass synthesizer (track 3), drums (track 3), keyboards track 3)
- Gia Koka – producer (track 2–3), bass (track 2), programmer (track 2), sound designer (track 2), arranger (track 3), bass synthesizer (track 3), drums (track 3), keyboards (track 3)
- Dave Kutch – masterer (track 1–4)
- Sam Martin – producer (track 1), programmer (track 1)
- Mike "Spike" Stent – mixer (track 2)
- Antonio "DJ Fuse" Olivera – additional vocal recording engineer (track 3)
- Florian Ongona – additional vocal recording (track 1)
- Cameron Gower Poole – vocal production (tracks 1–4)
- Matt Waro – producer (track 2), drums (track 2), programmer (track 2), sound designer (track 2), sound effects (track 2)
- Matt Wolach – assistant mixer (track 2)
Charts[]
Chart (2021) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[14] | 16 |
Release history[]
Region | Date | Version | Format(s) | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Various | 12 February 2021 | Bang EP | [1] | ||
12 March 2021 | Bang acoustic EP | [15] |
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b White, Jack (12 February 2021). "Rita Ora is back with a Bang with Imanbek-assisted EP and new single Big: First listen preview". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ C, Clara (2 February 2021). "Rita Ora announces collaboration with David Guetta" (in French). NRJ. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Copsey, Rob (4 February 2021). "Rita Ora and Imanbek to release joint EP Bang". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Goodbye – Imanbek & Goodboys". 18 December 2020. Archived from the original on 24 March 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021 – via Amazon.
- ^ Singh, Ashish (4 February 2021). "Rita Ora 'Bang': Release date, tracklist, concept, how to live stream and all about singer's EP produced over Zoom". Meaww.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ Bain, Katie (4 February 2021). "Imanbek & Rita Ora Announce Collaborative EP & 'Big' Lead Track Featuring David Guetta & Gunna". Billboard. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
- ^ Sunkel, Cameron (13 February 2021). "Rita Ora drops collaborative, club ready EP produced by Imanbek, 'Bang'". EDM.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Rita Ora x Imanbek – Bang [The Official EP Film]". 12 February 2021. Archived from the original on 21 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Edmonds, Lizzie (12 February 2021). "Rita Ora: Why new music video was hardest and most thrilling I have done". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 15 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Rita Ora performs Bang Bang on the ice". Dancing on Ice. ITV. 14 February 2021. Archived from the original on 24 March 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Rita Ora: Bang Bang – The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon". The Global Herald. 3 March 2021. Archived from the original on 24 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
- ^ Goodall, Hamish (5 March 2021). "Rita Ora dishes on The Voice Australia and performs smash-hit 'Bang Bang'". 7 News. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
- ^ "Bang – Rita Ora, Imanbek". Tidal. Archived from the original on 24 March 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Rita Ora Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
- ^ "Bang (acoustic) [Explicit] Rita Ora X Imanbek". 12 March 2021. Archived from the original on 12 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021 – via Amazon.
- 2021 EPs
- Albums produced by David Guetta
- Atlantic Records EPs
- House music EPs
- Pop music EPs
- EPs by English artists
- Rita Ora albums
- Warner Music Group EPs