Anabel Rose Bares her Soul in “Lungs”

Following features on Iyke Parker and Leonardoddj’s Pain and Pleasure and Reez’s SAY WHAT, Anabel Rose drops her first solo of the current year, Lungs. In Lungs, she reprises the emotional depth that is noticeable in her oeuvre. She opens up on her love languages and the strong desire for intimacy, more that is ever expressed in her previous musical quests. In Lungs, she wants not only to show love but also be loved. She confesses vulnerability while acknowledging the risks that come with it. The song is a mixed bag of  Soul, alternate R&B, and Bossa Nova, a musical wave traceable to the 1950s and 60s in Brazil, characterized by a samba-styled calm syncopated rhythm with chords and fingerstyle mimicking the beat of a samba groove. Its rhythmic flexibility enhances the theme of vulnerability. 

Contrary to traditional expectations about women in African cultures, Anabel Rose takes charge of her romantic life as she expresses her feelings and doubts without inhibition. Her lyrical expressiveness proves her maturity, humanizing her as not only a fierce and realistic lover, but is also suggestive of how, as a creative, she seems to be constantly figuring out what she wants. At 25 years old, and in her prime as a woman fully in charge of her body and her life, it makes sense that Anabel Rose states exactly her desires: “Baby What’s the rush? We had only just learned to touch each other… Why can’t it be enough?/ We could lay in bed instead ….. Whisper secrets never shared…. Finding ways to say I lo-lo-lo-lo-love you.” Perhaps, from past failed romantic affairs, she has learnt not to be hasty while trying to bond with her partners. 

Anabel Rose, a Ghanaian-Filipino alternative pop singer, nursed musical dreams right from her formative years. At 8, she started trying out different musical possibilities, perhaps unwittingly preparing her future path as a performing artist in the African entertainment scene. It’s no wonder that, many years after, with the launch of her professional career, she incorporates elements of Soul, Rock, R&B, alté, house, bossa nova and jazz in her music. The result is an eclectic yet distinct musical style that is not easy to pin down. 

Anabel Rose’s career began as a Black Girls Glow fellow in 2018, where she fashioned her artistic identity and created brilliant work intersecting music and social development. Being also a member of the Ghanaian music collective 99PHACES, Anabel gained a reputation as an eager collaborator. She feels inspired and awed by artists of diverse genres, including WILLOW, Amaarae, Somadina, and Teezo Touchdown. 

In 2023, she marked her solo debut with the release of Love Me or Die, where she established her lover girl persona. The track, powered by percussion, expresses undying desire and obsession for a male romantic interest. Her second single, Do Not Disturb, showcases her fun and playful side, showing her willingness to indulge in simple pleasures like having a good sleep, eating, sunbathing on a beach. The track earned her international acclaim, including a spot on H&M’s global playlist. Gathering over 300,000 streams across all platforms from her first two songs, the fast-rising pop sensation discovered a loyal fanbase, so called the Rosalindas, who connected with her characteristic sultry vocals and lighthearted themes. 

Lungs takes on the complexities of modern amorous relationships, spotlighting the reluctance of people to trust and reveals their true desires. Through her persona in the song, Anabel Rose redefines the identity of the young and modern African woman. In assertive and soul-searching lyrics, she voices her desires with persuasive force and with the hope of creating an understanding with her lover. The track, which is produced by fellow 99PHACES member Mēl,  has been described by Anabel Rose as “a piece of my heart…about the delicate dance of intimacy and the understanding in love, and the risk that comes with it”. 

In her music, Anabel Rose beckons listeners to experience a life that is defined by strength and courage, and that is without external validation. 

Listen to Lungs here: