November 10, 2024

A Rose by Any Other Sound

Exploring Anabel Rose’s Alternative Journey Through Ghana’s Music Scene

Defying Norms in an Afrobeats World

 Ghana’s music scene is largely defined by Afrobeats and Hiplife, genres with deep cultural roots. One look at Ghana’s Apple Music and radio charts will show you nearly 85% of Ghanaians regularly listen to Hiplife, Afrobeats or Afro-centric genres, while alternative genres like indie pop and R&B are less widely embraced. In a scene where Afrobeat superstars dominate, making space for a sound like Anabel Rose’s isn’t easy. But Anabel Rose leans into her unique sound, pushing forward in a lane all her own.

“Every time I perform, people respond,” she tells me. “I realized I could lean into the parts of me that didn’t fit the mold, and people would still connect with it.”

Her multicultural identity is deeply embedded in her music. Growing up, she absorbed the sounds of both her Ghanaian and Filipino backgrounds, the latter famously associated with karaoke culture and P-pop (Pinoy pop) ballads—a genre that, like her, defies easy categorization. “Even when you go to the malls there’s karaoke station is set up, so people just come and sing,” she laughs

“It’s a Filipino tradition! It taught me how to express myself without worrying about being ‘perfect’—a mindset I bring into my music.”

Crafting a Fusion of Sound and Identity

It’s clear that Anabel Rose’s music reflects her experiences growing up in two different cultures. Songs like “Do Not Disturb” (DND) and “Love Me or Die” showcase her fearless approach to combining influences from her Ghanaian roots with the sentimental quality often found in Filipino music. Her debut project captures her voice, her story, and her ambitions. She’s taken the familiar sounds of her mother’s beloved ballads and woven them into a modern, genre-bending tapestry that’s unapologetically hers.

Anabel Rose’s approach to songwriting is refreshingly raw. In tracks like “Too Friendly,” she confronts the notion of being “too nice,” a theme she later realized ran through much of her life. “I wrote it about a past relationship, but I later realized it was about my entire experience,” she says. “It’s the frustration of feeling like people take advantage of you because you’re nice.”

Listening to her music, I’m struck by the emotional honesty she brings to each track. It’s clear that her songs are not just melodies but personal stories—narratives that resonate with anyone who’s ever felt misunderstood or overlooked.

Influences Beyond Music

Anabel Rose’s love of storytelling is apparent not only in her lyrics but in the broader aesthetic she’s crafted around her music. Inspired by coming-of-age films and rom-coms like Clueless and She’s Gotta Have It, Anabel Rose’s visuals carry a dreamy, nostalgic feel, transporting listeners into her world. “My music is like the daydreams I had as a teenager watching those movies,” she tells me, eyes lighting up. “It’s fun to re-create that world in my songs and videos.”

Her musical influences are as eclectic as her cultural background. From the raw energy of Willow Smith and the indie rock of Fall Out Boy to the soft alt-R&B sounds of Amaarae, Anabel Rose’s taste is wide-ranging and unconventional. She brings all these sounds together to create something new, something that speaks to listeners who crave a break from mainstream hits.

Building Ghana’s Alternative Scene

ON THE RISE VOLUME 2Ghana’s alternative scene may be small, but it’s growing. With artists like Anabel Rose leading the charge, alternative genres are slowly but surely finding their audience. Anabel Rose knows she’s up against a predominantly Afrobeats market, but she’s excited to be part of a shift. “With this project, I want people to get to know me,” she says. “I want listeners to feel like they’re hearing my story, my influences, my journey.”

She only has no collaborations on the project, and all productions are with the collective 99Phases except one with DB Collective, keeping her debut primarily a solo statement. This EP, she explains, is a personal introduction to her world. In a market where Afrobeats is the expectation, her music is proof that there’s space for other genres to thrive.

A Voice for the Girls Who Don’t Quite Fit In

Listening to Anabel Rose’s music, I can’t help but feel like I’m hearing a “girls’ girl project”—a soundtrack for young women who navigate the world with strength, vulnerability, and a sense of individuality. When I share this thought with her, she nods, clearly pleased. “I love that you feel that way. This music is for girls who feel too much, who don’t quite fit in, who are both soft and strong,” she tells me. “It’s my journey, and I hope it resonates with others.”

Anabel Rose isn’t just introducing herself; she’s creating a new space within Ghana’s music landscape, bringing a unique fusion of genres and cultures. Her debut EP is her way of telling us who she is—a bold, multifaceted artist reimagining what it means to be “alternative” in a Ghanaian context.

Listen to Something about a Rose here:

/

You may also like