A best friend doesn’t always have to be someone we meet outside the home.
For Malaysian artiste Priscilla Abby, her closest companion has always been her mother – the person she shares her dreams, struggles and life’s biggest moments with.
“She’s a very fun mum,” the 29-year-old told StarLifestyle of their special bond.
“We're more like best friends than mother and daughter... In fact, I’m usually the one bossing her!” she added, laughing.
Raised in an open-minded household, Priscilla – whose full name is Priscilla Abby Chai – said she’s lucky her parents never pressured her to follow a conventional career path.
Instead, they encouraged her to explore her passions and make her own choices.
“When I told my mum I wanted to do music instead of going into business, she never stopped me. She always told me that whatever I choose to do, she will support me,” she said.
Today, Priscilla – whose father passed away when she was young – hopes to return her mother’s love by looking after her.
“I always tell her to exercise, eat healthier and go for regular check-ups, but she’s so stubborn.
“She says she’d rather not know if something is wrong because then she’d have to give up the food she loves. I always tell her, ‘That’s exactly why you should get checked!’” she said.
Besides her mother, Priscilla – who is based in Peninsular Malaysia – shares a close bond with her older brother (16 years her senior), and her sister-in-law.
“My sister-in-law watched me grow up and has become like a second mother to me,” she said.
“If I feel lonely when I’m back home, I’ll sometimes crawl into their bed and sleep between her and my brother. We’re just a very clingy family who are very expressive with our love.”
Start of something new
Growing up in a household that loved music, Priscilla always knew she wanted to pursue a career in showbiz.
After completing her SPM, she applied to study overseas, but none of her applications were successful.
“I remember praying and asking God what He wanted me to do with my life... Like, just show me the path, and I’ll follow it,” recalled the singer who hails from Kuching.
A turning point came in July 2016, when Priscilla was approached by a music producer from her church to front a project featuring EDM renditions of popular songs.
Together, they began uploading covers online, with her first cover – a rendition of How Have You Been by Taiwanese singer Eric Chou – gaining more than 4.5 million views.
She continued releasing covers, including Treat You Better by Shawn Mendes, Yesterday Once More by The Carpenters and others.
Priscilla’s breakthrough arrived later that year in November with her cover of The Brightest Star In The Night Sky by Mandopop band Escape Plan. That video has since surpassed 13.4 million views.
“Seeing such positive responses motivated me to keep going, and I later began writing my own original songs,” she said.
In 2017, Priscilla signed with digital media company WebTV Asia and released her debut EP Burn. Later that year, she held her first solo concert in Kuala Lumpur – a feat she described as one of the most meaningful moments of her career.
Over the years, Priscilla continued releasing originals like Our Times, I Love The Sky and Fight For My Life, as well as covers of popular tracks.
“There were people who believed in me and gave me the confidence to prove that I could do it.
“Even when others doubted me, there was always a group of people cheering me up, encouraging me through the difficult times.
“I’ve been in the industry for 10 years, but the journey hasn’t been without challenges,” she said.
Planting the seeds
When facing difficulties, Priscilla believes love and companionship are key in helping her weather the storm.
“My love language is physical touch. Sometimes, all I need is a hug to feel comforted,” she said.
That need for connection became especially clear during the Covid-19 pandemic, when travel restrictions kept her away from her family in Sarawak.
While the break allowed her to slow down after years of being constantly busy, the isolation eventually became overwhelming.
“I’m quite independent and don’t mind living on my own, but there’s only so much isolation a person can take,” Priscilla said.
“I remember breaking down during a phone call with my mum, telling her that I wanted to go home because I felt so lonely not being able to see my family or friends.”
Last year brought another challenge, as Priscilla found herself releasing less music while staying busy hosting shows and fronting travel programmes.
She released four songs on Spotify that year – half the number of tracks she put out in 2024.
Priscilla admitted that the lack of productivity affected her confidence as an artiste, and she began questioning whether people still remembered her.
“I remember telling my friends that I felt like I hadn’t achieved anything. But they told me to see the past year as a season of planting and this year as the season of harvesting,” the singer said.
That advice helped Priscilla realise that every experience had contributed to her growth.
“Every breakdown I had became part of the planting process, inspiring me to write more. I feel like I’m finally beginning to see the results now,” she said.
Embracing the next chapter
Indeed, 2026 is already proving to be a busy and fulfilling year for Priscilla.
Earlier in May, she received an invitation from Astro to compete in the reality singing competition Singer 2026 Malaysia.
However, her first reaction was not excitement but anxiety.
“The other singers all came from proper singing competitions, whereas I came from social media, so I felt like my skills were lacking,” she said.
Despite her doubts, Priscilla decided to accept the challenge, taking it as an opportunity to improve herself.
“I’m here to learn, meet other artistes and enjoy the experience. If I get eliminated, then I get eliminated,” she said.
For the record, the champion of Singer 2026 Malaysia will represent the country at the Singer 2027 competition produced by Mango TV in mainland China, which brings together competitors from various countries across the globe.
In the Malaysian segment, Jaclyn Victor emerged as the champion.
Although Priscilla finished in fifth place after nearly two months on the show, she has no regrets.
Instead, she’s grateful for the experience, having gained valuable insights from the programme’s vocal coaches and built new friendships with fellow contestants.
Aside from Singer 2026 Malaysia, Priscilla also released her new single Feng Zi in July.
She revealed that she has already recorded a few songs and is in talks to release more music in the coming months.
Reflecting on her journey, Priscilla feels grateful for the many fans who continue to quietly show their support.
“There are times when some fans step in to defend me, and I always feel touched when they do. But what I find interesting is that when people leave negative comments about me online, my fans rarely argue or fight back.
“Sometimes I jokingly think, ‘Why aren’t you defending me? Go scold these haters.’ But I’ve come to realise that’s their way of showing love.
“There’s no point arguing with strangers on the Internet if it doesn’t lead anywhere,” she said.
Looking ahead, Priscilla said fans can expect “lots of changes and transformations” from her.
For one, she will be holding a solo concert at Arena of Stars, Resorts World Genting, on Dec 5 to celebrate 10 years of music.
“I want to give back to the fans who have supported me throughout my journey. Time flies... I still remember starting out when I was just 18, and I’ll be 29 this October.
“I hope my fans will be just as excited as I am for my next journey,” she said.
Tickets to Priscilla Abby 19+ Malaysia Concert 2026, priced between RM188 and RM488, are available via rwgenting.com, etix.my and trip.com.
