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Photo by Kwame Obimpe

Blending a melange of cultures and influences, Anabel Rose is one of those artists who while defying particular description, does what great musicians do regardless of category, emotes pure listening vibes. On How Do The Flowers Bloom a delicately constructed joy is radiated off all of the tracks, a merging of venerability, honesty and melody that just clouds your thoughts with romantic ambitions. The most fun part it is done in so many tempos and cadences, that it really can pair with any mood, from soothing bed rot to dance floor finger snapping. Wanting to know how she blended such a fun foliage of sounds, we sent some letters to the other side of the world to get her direct thoughts: 

1. Who is Anabel Rose?  

Anabel Rose is a Ghanaian-Filipino alternative pop artist from Accra. At the core of my music is this curiosity about life and what it means to grow and thrive as a person on this shared earth. I write about the uncertainty and beauty of growing up, expressing desire, finding your voice, and trying to make sense of the world while you're still figuring yourself out. I believe in self- expression through experimentation as well, so sonically and visually I'm always asking myself, what else can this be? I think I'm ultimately trying to make music that feels honest, but still leaves room for fun and imagination

What is the theme/inspiration behind How Do The Flowers Bloom? 

It's really a project about becoming. I think we grow up with this idea that eventually we'll figure everything out and become this very defined version of ourselves, but life doesn't really work that way. There are so many unexpected turns, disappointments, questions and versions of yourself that discover and leave behind

The title comes from thinking about growth like a blooming flower. Different flowers need different conditions to bloom, and I started thinking about what that means for us as people. What do I need to grow? What kind of environment do I need? What am I holding onto? What does it actually mean for you to bloom and thrive in this life? The songs in this project are meant to guide you to figuring that out for yourself.

How and why did you settle on your sound? 

I realized that I’ve been an artist and creator my whole life, but only fully claimed it when I turned it into my career in 2023. These past 3 years have really been healing and satisfying my inner child by experimenting unapologetically with genres I grew up loving: r&b, rock, pop, bossa nova, ballads. With this project, I discovered what elements of these genres I love and could fuse with others 

Over time I've realized that I really love melody and interesting textures, and I like when songs can move between different worlds without feeling like they have to fit neatly into one genre. I think the goal now is less about finding one sound and more about sharpening what already feels like me, while still leaving room to surprise myself.

What informed the collaborations on the project and who are the architects behind the production of the Ep? 

With this EP, my manager Jasper has always championed the idea of never growing alone but building a sonic community for like-minded artists to grow and expand together. We were thinking about how we could expand the world of the project and connect with artists I've admired across the continent. 

In terms of the creation of the music, I’ve found a group of different musicians who I have gained trust and admiration for in the studio and I know will always be sonically curious with me: Paul Adams (piano and production), Julian Andoh (guitar), Insvne Auggie (Production and literally every instrument), Michael Bortei-Doku (Songwriting). I allowed myself to truly collaborate on this project and be vulnerable with them.

My project brings together Ria Boss & Herman Suede from Ghana, DreForyoursoul and Jiire Smith from Nigeria and Xenia Manasseh from Kenya. 

Describe your music as color/ activity/ place? 

In a big field with a DJ playing my music with an insane sound system, surrounded by other people who are immersed and flowing with the music, dancing like no one is watching.

Besides this excellent EP, what else should we be on the lookout for? 

I am planning on expanding the world of this project further with a headline show in Accra. I can’t wait to interpret all these songs on a live stage with my friends!

Take us on a date: where do we go? What do we do? 

Our date will happen on a Friday, we start the day at the African Film Society and pick any film to watch in their indoor cinema.

We go to Thai house after to order some Thai milk tea and get some oxtail patties from Kingston kitchen.

Then, we head to gallery 1957 to view their latest artist exhibitions and installations. After that we stop at republic bar to revive ourselves with some ginger shots and then catch the sunset overlooking the cliffy beach at Next Door Beach Resort.

What’s inspiring you right now outside of music? 

I am currently participating in an artist residency in Berlin, living with 14 other artists of varying disciplines. Each of them have taught me such valuable lessons on what it means to be passionate about your work, about the world around us and live for the moment. I’ve definitely begun to expand my brain on what it means to live as an artist beyond the rat race of outward recognition.

Food group / activity best suited to enjoying your work?

I think of a group road trip to the beach, blasting my tunes in the car and then having a wholesome day at the beach with good food, wine and the people you love and then ending with a sunset where we tell each other how much we love each other.

Musically, who is new but making all the right moves? Who are your current OnesToWatch? 

South African, Tessi Nandi, and Ghanaian-based artist Malaika They have a depth that is beyond their years and vocal emotions that carry you into your deepest memories. I can’t wait for more people to discover their sonic beauty.

Listen to How Do The Flowers Bloom below: