Karmin Vs. Rita Ora: Rolling Stone Battle Gets 'Awkward'


CHICAGO — Before the festival was evacuated due to severe weather, fans took a break from Lollapalooza on Saturday to hear music from some of the newest faces in the game: Karmin and Rita Ora. The two are facing off to land the cover of 's first-ever "Women Who Rock" issue, which is voted on by the fans.
MTV News caught up with both finalists following their performances in front of hundreds of fans at Chicago's Paris Club.

Karmin, Rita Ora Compete For Rolling Stone Cover

"If we landed this cover, it would be a really, really big deal. I'm from a small town in Nebraska, and I know the entire state is pulling for us," Karmin's Amy Heidemann said. "They're just really excited for us. All of our friends, all of our fans, 'Karminites,' the crazy Karminites out there who have been voting like nuts, I mean, it would be a huge deal. We'd probably have a Ustream party with the entire planet."
Yet they will have some stiff competition in Ora. The 21-year-old British singer is a member of Jay-Z's Roc Nation and is already making headlines with her hit single "How We Do (Party)," and her debut album is scheduled to hit stores this fall.
"I can't even express to you, I'll have so much fun," Ora said about potentially landing the cover. "It's going to be such an amazing experience. ... I'll be really proud of myself. It means a lot to me, for my team, for my family, and we've worked really hard on this project."

Lollapalooza 2012 Evacuates
Even though they are battling for the cover, that doesn't mean they don't appreciate each other as musicians.
"Karmin is cool, I like them," Ora said. "Being from the U.K., I didn't really hear that much about them coming to the States, you know? I heard more and more about them, and they seem really fun. They're definitely different from me."
And even though they may have different styles of music, Heidemann believes that she and Ora, who met for the first time at the event, would become fast friends.
"She is so sweet! We just met her today, and even though we have our own unique swagger, we found out that we actually grew up listening to the same people and idolizing the same people: Gwen Stefani, Celine Dion," Heidemann said. "So it was really fun to meet her and she was also really into fashion, like me, so we're basically best friends, so it's going to be a little awkward."
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