Anabel Rose
How do the flowers bloom?
The Filipino-Ghanaian
alt-pop star tells us about being in her age of becoming
Anabel Rose is a rare breed in the Ghanaian music ecosystem, her sound – a fusion of R&B, highlife, bossa nova, and alt-pop – making her stand out in this afrobeats-heavy landscape. The Ghanaian-Filipino artist was first heard as a member of the music collective 99PHACES, followed by her debut EP, ‘Something About A Rose’ (2024). Since then, she’s become the face of campaigns across Apple Music and Spotify, headlined her own home show and performed at festivals across Europe – all the while building a strong fan community of ‘Rosalindas’. Now, on her latest EP ‘How Do The Flowers Bloom?’, Anabel Rose reflects on the complexity of being an imperfect daughter, the hidden blessing of uncertainty, and the process of learning to grow in different soils. We talk to the artist about the sophomore project and what it tells us about her artistic and personal journey.
From ‘Something About A Rose’ to ‘How Do The Flowers Bloom?’, what lessons have you picked up that are shaping your career today?
The first EP definitely held a certain level of naivety in it. I was green to the whole business of music and what it took to be an artist. I was also pretty green at doing life. I had just finished university in California and was taking a chance on myself. With the second EP, we’re a bit more grounded. We’ve experienced more, and we’ve had a chance to ask ourselves more questions about who we are and the path we want to take in life. That introspection is very important because it’s led me to think about trusting my own voice and standing up for what I believe in. I’ve had to learn a lot of lessons, sometimes the hard way, and I hope that this project can also throw these themes back to listeners to ponder on for themselves: What kind of life do they want? What kind of person do they want to be?
Fifteen by Merchants
The project is a fusion of sonic “flowers” that bloom differently. What has influenced the diversity in the project?
CD: We're based in Scotland and we have a few staff in London, as well as trustees across the world. Aram and Nejad [Kurdi, co-ordinator and DJ] manage all of the projects and we're now at a point where we're trying to transition to everything being locally run. We won't have international volunteers but instead will encourage people to visit and promote it as a destination as well as raise money in the UK.
You went from having zero features on your debut to having five features on this one including Ria Boss, Herman Suede, Dre Foryoursoul, Xenia Manasseh and Jiire Smith. What do the add to the mix?
At the beginning of the year, I sat down with one of my managers, Jaspa, who’s one of the bigger brains behind my story. The idea was to see what kind of chemistry and world-building we could come up with by tapping into these artists I admire from Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria, while also strengthening community relationships across borders. We admired them from afar and wanted to see what happens when we worked together.
“I hope this project asks listeners to ponder what kind of person they want to be”
On ‘Peace of Mind’, you sing “uncertainty is a blessing.” In an industry that demands a strategy for success, how are you managing expectations without being consumed by them?
You might have your blueprints for how things will move forward, but truly, you never know. Most times, it’s kind of a gamble. What will succeed? What will people like? There are always trends and predictions, but somewhere down the line, something happens that throws people off. A movement starts that seemingly comes from nowhere. And even with life, we can get lost in the fear and anxiety of what the future holds. But I think not knowing motivates us to take control of what happens next while recognising that there are things bigger than yourself. There’s a humility and gratefulness for life in that.
From performing in Accra, Lagos, London and Hamburg, how have these different places and cultures influenced how you create?
Before becoming an artist, I had done shows in Accra and on campus at university. But when I began my journey officially, that was in Accra. The scene there is very particular so I learned how to capture people, especially a tough crowd. Once I performed in other countries like the UK and Germany, my eyes were opened to another type of audience who were curious and excited, even though they didn’t know who you are. Also seeing how other artists present themselves at festivals and innovate without necessarily having access to a band has been very inspiring. Next, I’m planning a show in Accra in November and I’m excited to see how we can expand my EP even further.
If a young Rosalinda listens to this EP in five years, what difference do you hope it’ll make to her life?
I hope that she will have the bravery and unapologetic-ness that I struggled to find when I was her age. I hope the EP gives her that confidence and self-assurance to always trust her gut, vouch for herself and believe in her sauce, even if the people around her don’t seem to get it yet. Emphasis on the yet.
Visit Anabel Rose
Photography, Direction and Make up Erica Aryee
Styling Enyonam Ayivor
Kimono NAKOI
Words Nana Kojo Mula
Published on 8 October, 2026
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