Anabel Rose stepped out onto the scene in 2023, guns blazing. Her debut, “Love Me or Die,” was the first indicator of her brazen artistry. If you listen to the track closely, you’ll hear spacey synths and pop rock vocals enveloping your earbuds, along with a steady drum pattern that quickly gives way to a furious Rock n Roll guitar. Even its title - "love me or die" - implies a sort of crazed boldness, as though daring her nonchalant love interest to step out of line just one more time.
Such daring sonic exploration was only to be expected from an artist like Anabel Rose, who is known for taking seemingly disparate worlds and making them fit harmoniously. This is true in the context of her Filipino and Ghanaian heritage, and it is certainly true in the case of her explosive fusion sound. After joining Accra’s Black Girls Glow music residency in 2018, Anabel began to cultivate what would later become her soundscape, which routinely meshes alternative rock, pop, r&b, and more with danceable, Afro-centric rhythms.
“Growing up, I listened to a lot of what my friends in high school called ‘white people music,’” Anabel begins. “I loved rock, pop, folk music, and my dad put me on to country when I was really young. I worried about how my influences would translate into the things I made because I knew [my music] wasn't going to be something that people in Ghana would naturally resonate with. However, I leaned into it. Why make something that felt inauthentic when I could just keep making music that I could feel proud about? It’s boring to stick to one genre or way of doing things, isn’t it?”
Along with her rebellious sound, Anabel cultivated an equally stand-out aesthetic to match - presenting a complete package made purely of popstar material. Space buns and knitted caps are her armor, while pastels and glittery pop sensibilities are her shield. In her you can hear the echoes of a number of her beloved icons: the genre subversion of Somadina, the siren-like vocality of Amaarae, the rock sensibilities of Willow. Even as she draws inspiration from these rich references, Anabel Rose is undoubtedly an original, of which there is no duplicate. She is ushering in something fun-loving and new, made of addictive melodies, ginger hair, and technicolor.
“Love Me or Die” may have initiated her perfect-song-streak, but it was the infectious “Do Not Disturb” that solidified her reign amongst Accra’s alternative set. Capitalizing on the continent’s current infatuation with boundless dance beats, “Do Not Disturb” packs in warm synth and fast-paced percussion. Anabel’s voice both soothes and excites, convincing listeners to revel in relaxation and, moments later, to dance to their left and right. On this track, Anabel emerges as fresh as air, offering up on a platter a level of ingenuity that the scene has scarcely seen.
“I had no expectations for ‘DND’ in relation to how it would be received,” Anabel shares. “I just knew that the song had such an infectious energy and it resonated with how I was feeling at that time - wanting to be free of society’s expectations of me. Seeing Nigerians, Kenyans, Americans reaching out, playlisting, sharing - it made me realize just how global music could be.”
Now well aware that the world is at her disposal, Anabel is here to make 2024 her year. Following standout features such as “Pain & Pleasure” with Ghanaian music collective 99 PHACES (of which she’s a member) and "SAY WHAT” with Reez, she’s back again with “Lungs,” her first solo single of the year. Fusing soothing bossa nova with soul - the handiwork of producer and 99 PHACES member Mēl - “Lungs” explores the trickiness of intimacy in a cherished relationship, of balancing your desires with those of your partner. It’s a deeply relatable portrayal of love in our modern moment, and a testament to Anabel’s ability to delve into the depths of her heart and emerge with truth.
Most importantly, “Lungs” is the latest release from Anabel’s forthcoming debut EP Something About a Rose. Exploring themes ranging from romance to self-empowerment with zero sonic limitations, the EP is set to be a culmination of Anabel’s sound and self, of an artist and girl who is all grown up. Set to release towards the end of the year, Something About a Rose is sure to reveal to audiences the sheer breadth of Anabel Rose’s sound, and affirm her position in both Ghana and Africa’s alternative pop pantheon.
"I hope this tape helps people who are familiar with myself as an artist to fall deeper in love with my music and my sound,” Anabel tells AMAKA. “I want them to understand just how deep my love for genre exploration is, as well as my passion for storytelling. As a creative director, I’m putting my heart and soul into this rollout, and I am praying it is received just as I envision it to be.”