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HELLA - IF WE MAKE IT EP (IFSDIGI021)
Crafting Sound, Shaping Legacy
Moments that Last
- Sarah Styles
When I first sat down with Hella, I expected a typical artist conversation about creative processes, new releases, and upcoming projects. But what I wasn’t prepared for was a dialogue that would stretch beyond the studio and the beats, weaving through themes of personal growth, clarity, and the pursuit of artistic authenticity. This conversation wasn’t just about music—it was about the human experience, about finding peace within the chaos of life and creating something that reflects both struggle and triumph. The kind of conversation you find only when someone’s truly ready to open up.
Chapter 1 … Hella
☉☉☉
"I’ve never felt this clear-headed in my life," Hella said, his voice calm but confident, carrying a quiet relief. It wasn’t just his music that was shifting—it was his whole life. After years of fluctuating between creative highs and lows that often led to self-doubt and heavy distractions, he’d found a new balance. "I’m waking up at 6 AM, hitting the gym, doing my food shop, and really thinking about what I’m doing with each day. It feels good to be making decisions with intention."
As I listened, it became clear that Hella wasn’t just talking about physical routines, but about a total recalibration of how he approached his career. The shift he’d made wasn’t a small one, and it wasn’t just about getting up earlier or drinking less. It was about reclaiming control. For so long, it felt like his life had been driven by the expectations of others—the pressure to constantly create, to network, to perform. Now, there was a freedom in his voice, a newfound ownership of his choices that was liberating. “There’s something about having a routine that makes you feel more in control. I used to live for the weekend or party too much, but now, I’m just focusing on making each day count."
This clarity wasn’t just for his body; it was for his mind and, ultimately, his music. As we dove deeper into the creative process, Hella’s insights became even more striking. "It’s crazy how much of a difference it makes when you separate the creative process from the release process. You can’t juggle both at once," he shared, leaning forward with intensity. "When you’re releasing a track, your focus should be on perfecting that piece of art. Only once it’s out should you start thinking about the next one."
The simplicity of his words hit home. Too often, artists get caught up in the endless cycle of content creation—constantly brainstorming, working, promoting—without ever truly releasing themselves from the grip of that cycle to focus on one piece of work at a time. It’s easy to get lost in the pressure to constantly churn out new content, but Hella’s advice to break it down into manageable steps felt like a lifeline for anyone in a creative field. “Trying to make something new before releasing what you’ve already done will just muddy your head,” he said. "Give each song its time in the spotlight, and then move on."
His words weren’t just about managing work; they were about managing life itself. In the hyper-paced world of digital music, it's easy to get swept up in the rush to create, release, and move on, without truly reflecting on each creation’s place in the grand scheme of your journey. Hella had learned this the hard way, and it had led to burnout. Now, he was taking his time with each release, allowing the music—and his mind—to breathe in between.
The conversation took a deeper turn when I asked about the legacy he hopes to leave behind. “I used to think about legacy all the time,” Hella said, his face softening. "When I first started, I thought it was all about reaching the top—about being one of those artists everyone knows. The ones who blow up and have huge fanbases and massive streaming numbers." But there was a noticeable shift in the way he spoke now—almost as if he had let go of something that once consumed him. "But the truth is, that pressure isn’t worth it. The more I thought about it, the more I realized it’s not about the hustle to make it big. It’s about creating work that I can stand behind for the rest of my life."
It was a revelation that took me by surprise—this realization that success doesn’t have to come in a neat, linear package. "I remember seeing a meme about Morgan Freeman," Hella continued with a chuckle, "and how he didn’t start acting seriously until he was in his 50s. It hit me, though—there’s no set timeline for success. If Morgan Freeman didn’t hit his stride until later, maybe it’s okay if I’m not there yet. Maybe I still have time."
I couldn’t help but laugh along with him. It was a perspective that was so simple, yet so rare in an industry driven by immediacy. The pressure to “make it” by a certain age or within a certain timeframe is something so many artists feel, but Hella’s admission gave me a sense of relief. “If Morgan Freeman didn’t make it until he was 50, then I’m not in a rush either," I joked, but the truth behind his words stuck with me.
“I’ve come to realize that chasing the big success is like chasing a shadow. It’s always ahead of you, just out of reach,” Hella reflected. “It’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind when you see other people your age achieving things you haven’t yet, but I’ve learned to stop comparing myself to others. Everyone’s path is different. The more I focus on making music that I’m proud of, the less I care about the rest. I’d rather take my time and build something meaningful than rush into the spotlight.”
This shift in his mindset wasn’t just about music—it was about embracing life as it comes. "Success doesn’t need to look the same for everyone. Some people find it young, some people find it later in life. The important part is that when you look back, you feel like you’ve done the work that was true to you," Hella said with a quiet confidence.
As we kept talking, it became clear that Hella’s perspective on his work, and on life itself, had evolved over the years. The younger version of himself had been fixated on achieving certain milestones, but now, the priority was authenticity. “It’s funny,” he said, “when I started out, I was so focused on how people perceived me. I wanted to be cool, to fit in with the scene. But now, I’m just doing what feels right. I’m not worried about what people think anymore. I’m just trying to make the best music I can and stay true to myself."
And that authenticity had become the backbone of his creative journey. "I’ve had moments of doubt, where I’d question my choices or my place in the industry. But I’ve realized that those doubts don’t need to define me. I’ve come to appreciate the process of creating—whether or not it leads to immediate recognition. I’ve learned to trust the process.”
I could feel the change in him as he spoke. It was as if each word reflected a decision he’d made—one to prioritize what mattered most: his craft, his growth, his peace. "It’s been a journey," he continued. "Not just with music, but with life. When I stopped trying to force everything to happen on my timeline, I found a much more natural rhythm.”
At this point, we shifted into discussing the goals he had for the future. "It’s funny," Hella said with a smile, "I looked at my New Year’s goals from last year, and at first, I thought I hadn’t achieved much. But then I looked again and realized I’d actually smashed most of them. It felt really good to see that progress, even when it felt slow at the time.”
This moment of reflection brought the conversation full circle. The importance of small steps, of recognizing progress even when it’s not immediately visible, had become a central theme in Hella’s life. “The key is breaking down big goals into smaller, manageable ones. If you try to tackle everything at once, it’s overwhelming. But when you focus on one thing at a time, you start seeing real results.”
And perhaps that was the biggest takeaway from our entire conversation: success is not about the rush to the finish line, but about the process, the growth, and the ability to celebrate the small victories along the way. Whether in music, in personal development, or in the way we navigate our relationships with others, it’s the steady progress that defines us.
As we wrapped things up, I asked if there was anything he wanted to share with his fans, or any final thoughts before we closed the interview. "Yeah, just one thing," Hella said with a grin, "Thanks, Mum. She’ll hate me if I don’t mention her. I’ll text you back soon, don’t worry!"
It was a small moment of humor that lightened the atmosphere, but beneath it was the sense of gratitude that had become central to Hella’s mindset. His evolution from chasing the elusive dream of overnight success to finding peace in the pursuit of artistic truth was a testament to his resilience and self-awareness.
☉☉☉
And with that - signing off until our next chapter of Infernal Archives.
