Nar Cabico has recorded an original track with an LA-based producer, the one who produced the songs of Apl.de.Ap and his American group, Black Eyed Peas. Nar Cabico “It’s still in the work,” he said of the track. Before that, do you know Nar was invited to do a special audition for “Miss Saigon?” His bid was to bag the role of The Engineer for the ongoing UK tour of the hit musical. Unfortunately, things didn’t go so well for him as “hindi pumasok sa isip ko yung pyesa, kumbaga hindi ko na naaral ng mabuti.” But it’s okay, believing everything happens for a reason. “Honestly, I look back on what happened to me and it all pointed for me to stay (in the Philippines). Kasi kung natanggap ako sa ‘Miss Saigon,’ hindi ko mahahawakan personally ‘yung first-ever trophy ko as singer-songwriter.” Nar refers to the Movie Theme Song of the Year award he won at the PMPC Star Awards last February. He did so for his heartfelt rendition of “Natapos Tayo” from the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry “All Of You.” With all the opportunities coming his way, Nar shared to become an international artist is not urgent. “Hindi naman ako ‘yung sobrang may ‘American Dream’ na tao. Siguro pwedeng on the side lang siya pero kasi ang gusto kong kwento na isalaysay ay ‘yung mula sa mga Pilipino,” he said. “At isa pa, nag-e-enjoy ako dito sa ating bansa, I love creating (songs) with my fellow Filipinos.” Nar thinks being an “international artist” is just branding. The quality of work matters more, if not the most. “With the internet naman, everything is international. Let the quality speak for them. Kumbaga hindi naman importante na ma-brand ka as an international singer. Ang mahalaga ‘yung quality na binibigay mo sa mga listeners mo.” Aim for more Nar still considers himself a newbie recording artist. So far, he has released two songs“Gaga” and “Natapos Tayo,” both his compositions. The singer-songwriter took another big step in his career by substituting for Moy Ortiz in the performance of The CompanY for 10 performances in the recent past. Nar wants to make a “substantial contribution” to the industry. He doesn’t’ aim to have several hits buta “buffet of works” he can be proud of. “Gusto ko na kapag 70 years old na ako at namamahinga na lang ako sa Dumaguete, tapos papakinggan ko mga ‘yung nalikha kong kanta, sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam nu’n,” he explained. “Hindi ako after sa awards eh kasi unang-una nakaka-stress ‘yung magsusulat ka lang ng kanta para sa award. Hindi ako yung tao na mahilig sa contest. Ang gusto ko lang tahimik ako sa gilid pero boom, eto na!” Apart from singing, Nar is into acting. He is part of the romantic-comedy series “The One That Got Away.” The guy is also a theater actor. “Both have self-fulfillment to me. I’m a storyteller kasi na kahit anong medium pa yan -- music, acting or composing --- basta mahalaga nakakapag-kwento ako sa maraming tao,” he said. Nar is open to accepting hosting chores. According to him, he is a risk-taker. During the interview, Nar sang Joey Ayala’s song as inspiration for his career. “Kung kaya mong isipin, kaya mong gawin/Isa-isang hakbang lang at ika’y makakarating/Tulad ng ibong nanggaling sa binhi /Ang mga dakilang gawa ay nagmumula sa guni-guni.” “Ang pinaka-tumatak sa akin ay ‘yung linyang ‘Ang mga dakilang gawa ay nagmumula sa guni-guni.’ Parang it’s a statement to self na ‘Why don’t we answer our inner child?’ Kapag may gut feel ka na kaya mong gawin ang isang bagay, ‘wag kang matakot. So ako, kahit anong ibato sa akin (na trabaho), willing ako to do it. Wala namang mawawala kung susubukan ko.”