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.

Nataal: From ‘Something About A Rose’ to ‘How Do The Flowers Bloom?’, what lessons have you picked up that are shaping your career today?

Anabel Rose: 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?

Nataal: The project is a fusion of sonic “flowers” that bloom differently. What has influenced the diversity in the project?

Anabel Rose: When I started out, I really wanted to experiment with all of these different genres. Now, I’m more focused and have figured out what I’m inspired by. For example, with R&B, I know that I make my best melodies. Moving forward, it’s about sharpening that knife some more. I still love the way I blend things so we’ll see. That’s the joy of it all.

Nataal: 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?

Anabel Rose: 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.

Nataal: 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?

Anabel Rose: 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.

Nataal: From performing in Accra, Lagos, London and Hamburg, how have these different places and cultures influenced how you create?

Anabel Rose: 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.

Nataal: If a young Rosalinda listens to this EP in five years, what difference do you hope it’ll make to her life?

Anabel Rose: 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.