When Canadian-Haitian R&B artist Annabel Oreste sings, she doesn’t just perform, she confesses. The 2025 Grand Prize winner of Canada’s Walk of Fame RBC Emerging Musician Program is stepping into her most vulnerable era yet with the release of her new single, “I CARE,” an intimate exploration of what it means to risk love in a world that rewards detachment.

Produced by Highklassified, the Montréal-born producer known for his textured soundscapes and emotive beats, “I CARE” invites listeners into Annabel’s quiet reckoning with fear and desire. The song peels back layers of guardedness, tracing the tender moment when self-protection gives way to honesty.

“This song is me confronting the fear of being seen for the first time,” Annabel shares.

“It’s about the messy, fragile, and terrifying space between wanting to love authentically and being terrified of rejection.”

The track’s mellow basslines and soulful melodies mirror that tension, a push and pull between surrender and self-defense. It’s the kind of song that feels like a late-night phone call you weren’t ready to have, yet needed to.

Annabel’s story is one of soulful persistence. Many first met her as “Princess Annabel” during her time on Star Académie, where her powerful vocals and captivating stage presence made her a standout. Her heartfelt cover of Anita Baker’s “Body and Soul” went viral, amassing more than 300,000 YouTube views and introducing audiences to her blend of strength and sincerity.

Now, she’s channeling those same qualities into original music that feels deeply personal. “I CARE” follows her previous single “Hero,” an uplifting anthem about resilience and courage. But where “Hero” was about external strength, “I CARE” turns inward — offering a mirror to anyone who has ever been afraid to fall in love but did anyway.

Author: Staff Writer

“I CARE” is the second glimpse of Annabel’s forthcoming debut EP, Lovingly, slated for release in 2026. The project promises to weave emotional honesty with immersive production, a journey through love, fear, and radical self-acceptance. Her blend of Pop, R&B, and Soul feels tailor-made for this kind of emotional storytelling. 

Annabel Oreste is quickly becoming one of Canada’s most promising voices in modern R&B. She represents a new wave of Canadian artists reclaiming emotional storytelling and reshaping what it means to be both vulnerable and powerful in today’s music landscape.

With “I CARE,” Annabel proves that caring, even when it hurts, is an act of courage.