An active lifestyle or a busy one? Artists Bella Astillah and Hael Husaini share how they make that distinction

Heeding her young son’s advice, Bella has learned to draw the distinction between a busy life and an active, healthy one. No matter how rushed life gets, she falls back on a strong support system of family and friends, along with the structure of a routine that’s worked well for her for some time now. 

“After my kids come back from school, I make sure we spend time together, even if for a short while. I want them to know that even though they see their mum is busy, that she’ll always make time for family,” she says, recalling how her own mother also made an effort to spend time with her and her siblings.  

“When we have time, my mum and I will make Raya cookies. On weekends, we go out to play football. I take the kids for ice-cream. I want them to see that in spite of this hectic life of fame, we can have a normal family life too. For me, being responsible and working hard is more important than having a glamourous life and I want the kids to learn that as well.”  

Lately, Bella has found herself shifting from unhelpful habits like scrolling through comments on social media to more engaging hobbies. From badminton and futsal to nightly jogs, sports has become an outlet for her that restores calm and serenity amidst the chaos and uncertainty of life as a single mum. 

“My mother always said to me that while you can’t force everyone to like you, you can always be kind to everyone. And she always taught me to believe in miracles,” Bella muses. “I’m lucky to have her in my life, she’s the strongest woman I know.”

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Interestingly, award-winning singer and influencer Hael Husaini also initially struggled with balancing the desire to please audiences at the cost of his own well-being. But the space of about 15 years now in the music industry has taught the prolific artiste important lessons about self-care and finding one’s centre amidst a hectic life in the public’s eye.

“Yeah it’s tiring at times, but at the end of the day, I’m grateful—I’m living my dream,” says Hael, whose hit single ‘Diam’ from his Antonim Part 1 album won the Best Theme Song at the 2024 Asian Academy Creative Awards in Singapore in December. “I try to take every moment to the max, whether it’s at performances or travelling for Paris Fashion Week and other events. I’ve had this kind of schedule now for the last seven years and I love what I do.”

“At first, I always focused on the crowd and not as much on my own body and health,” he shares. “After some time in this industry, I realised I needed to take care of myself in order to maintain all these other aspects of my life.”      

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His advice to up and coming artists is, unsurprisingly, to know and understand yourself first before trying to make everyone else happy.

Hael’s ringing, powerhouse vocals and commanding on-stage presence has thrilled audiences across cultures and borders; and given his success both locally and internationally (and an adoring 1.8 million-strong Instagram following), it’s clear that he is on the right track.     

“Before you try to make people love you, the most important thing is to love and take care of yourself first,” says Hael, who is represented by the Rocketfuel Entertainment label. “I’ve learnt that taking care of yourself will teach you how to value other things in life. It’s not about living in your own world where everything has to be about you. It’s about you and a whole lot of other people as well. That’s why it’s important to find balance and stability for yourself first so that you have energy to care for others.” 

A self-dubbed “fake extrovert”, Hael confesses that he was extremely shy and introverted as a child, always comparing himself with other kids and living in his own imagination. Till today, not many people realise the anxiety and nervousness he still experiences just before a show.

“I think many artistes experience this same thing,” Hael says with a grin, adding how he has learnt to prioritise sleep and work in hours of rest and family time despite being on the road so often. “Someone once told me, ‘Sing like there’s no tomorrow.’ I give 300 per cent of effort and energy into every performance, and I take each and every moment to the max. But I also make time to rest, whether it’s catching some sleep backstage before a show or in the car.”           

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“To me, living my dream is living a good lifestyle as well—I have a good diet, get plenty of rest, and have time to myself every so often. Having space for myself puts me in the most optimal state. I reflect on my life, think about what I’ve achieved and how I can improve,” he says.   

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From performing at a host of music festivals, concerts and celebrity weddings to attending fashion shows around the world, Hael has had a hectic, but extremely fulfilling year. “I’m living my dream to the fullest. I don’t want to live with any regrets. Especially when I perform, I don't want to look back and think ‘Why didn’t I do this or that.’ That’s why I try my best, whether through fever, sickness, fatigue—all of it. There’s a lot I had to sacrifice to be where I am today—hard work, sweat, cramps. But like I said, I have no regrets.”  

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