Paco Arespacochaga’s protégé Cedric Escobar joins the OPM scene

MANILA, Philippines — Cedric Escobar belongs to the new set of exciting and emerging artists to look out for after scoring a recording deal with PolyEast Records. The US-bred singer recently dropped his debut song, ‘Di Na Ba, written by his mentor and “second father” Paco Arespacochaga of the popular ‘90s band Introvoys.

The single was launched at the first The LiVeRARY Night, a series of performances that started online over the pandemic and has since transitioned to the live stage to introduce up-and-coming PolyEast artists.

It was a dream come true for the 23-year-old Cedric, who has been trying to enter the entertainment scene since 2016.

“Ever since I was little, (I was interested in singing) but it was instilled in me that it (was just) a hobby because I’m part of a first-generation immigrant in the US. So, I was made to focus on my academics growing up. The only music-related thing I did was being part of a choir. But after high school, I begged my parents that I really wanted to try it here in the Philippines,” he told The STAR in an interview.

Initially, however, he felt intimidated by the Filipino singers here, so he decided to pursue acting gigs instead. This was in 2016. In the subsequent years, he would travel back and forth between New York and Manila to do auditions. “I trained myself in Tagalog because that’s how you book jobs and mas na-appreciate ng manonood,” he said.

Still, Cedric met a lot of rejections. “Napakahirap po mag-break through sa ating industriya dito,” shared Cedric, who ended up studying a medical course at Queens College, New York.

Things started to show promise in 2019, giving him the confidence to continue trying to join the industry but through a different route — music. It all began when he was asked to serve as front act in US concerts of Filipino artists. “I was just singing in a New York restobar and someone told me magkaka-concert na si KZ Tandingan, do you want to front act?” he said.

Cedric Escobar recently dropped his debut song, ‘Di Na Ba, which was written by his mentor and ‘second father’ Paco Arespacochaga of the popular ‘90s band Introvoys. The 23-year-old is set to release another song titled Gasera on May 26.

Soon after, Cedric opened shows for such artists as Jaya, South Border, Juan Karlos and the Introvoys, where he’d meet Paco.

“Parang nakitaan ako ng potential ni Kuya Paco. He’s been mentoring me in terms of how I present myself onstage, how to write songs, and how to sing songs the way that they’re supposed to (be sung).

“In a way, he’s the one who discovered me. I’ve met a lot of Pinoy artists, they’re all full support naman… But Introvoys, sila Kuya Paco, went beyond what they were supposed to do. He took me in, asked me what I wanted in my career and what I wanted to see myself doing. He’s been holding my hand ever since.

“Parang ngayon lang po, since nasa Pilipinas ako, na parang binitawan. He left me with PolyEast po. Kaya kahit wala siya dito, people who have been in the industry have been guiding me and (offering) advice. So, I’m very thankful.”

Paco, on the other hand, was first impressed by Cedric when he showed up at rehearsals even though he was feeling under the weather.

“To me, that’s important because it shows that you’re professional. That’s half the battle won,” he said. “During the actual show, siempre mini-mentor din siya ni Jonathan Buencamino (also of Introvoys), sinunod din naman niya. Tapos yung energy ng tao, nadala niya eh. Sabi ko, I’m doing a big project, OPM song fest, isasama kita.”

After that, the mentor-protege relationship was born. Sharing their dynamics, Paco described Cedric as like his own son. “I told Cedric, I need you to trust me and I’ll trust you also because, normally, ang parents nagdududa kaagad sayo, ‘Sigurado ka ba dyan?’

“So, sabi ko sa kanya, I’ll come to you with trust on the table. I’ll allow you to challenge my opinion. Simulan natin ng ganun. If you have an opinion, let’s do it pero panindigan mo. Kapag naglabas ka, panindigan mo or hingin mo yung opinion nila, sige gawin mo. ‘Pag pumalpak naman yun, saka mo labas sa ‘yo.”

This is the same advice that made the most impact on Cedric. “I treat (Kuya Paco) like a second tatay rin po. Ang pinaka-tumatak talaga sa akin is to learn to just trust the process and let go. Take the lead because before I was always hesitant. I had my own visions for myself, but I’ve learned to trust everyone else who’s more experienced than I am.”

This led to Cedric having eight songs, with the first one ‘Di Na Ba, written by Paco himself based on the young singer’s own experience with love. The heartbreak anthem is about asking a girl if there’s still a chance to reunite and reconcile even if she’s already with someone new.

Although he was mainly influenced by gospel, soul, and R&B in his younger years, Cedric hopes to bring back the ‘90s sound with his music, which is also leaning towards the ballad side. (Interestingly, the first-ever OPM song his mom taught him was Martin Nievera’s enduring ballad Kahit Isang Saglit.)

Paco said, “I told Cedric, Introvoys is a rock band, pero yung nag-hi-hit yung ballad. Parang Extreme di ba? Rock band pero More Than Words ang nag-hit. Akala ng tao ballad band yun. Same thing with Introvoys, sabi ng label, ballad tayo ngayon.

Cedric with Paco during the launch of ‘Di Na Ba at the first The LiVeRARY Night, a series of live performances to introduce up-and-coming PolyEast artists.

“With Cedric, he’s R&B eh. Pero sabi ko hanggang andyan si Jay Durias, Kris Lawrence, Jay-R, Luke Mejares… I mean, gaano kakulot gusto mong kukulot, wala ng kukulot pa… Sabi ko, bukas na bukas yung ‘90s lane, and you’ll never sound like Introvoys because you have a distinct voice. Pero isipin natin mindset, what would Ely Buendia do, what would Rico Blanco do, what would Paco Arespacochaga do, what would Medwin Marfil do?”

Though he has lent his experience and know-how, Paco stressed that Cedric’s music “has the DNA of the ‘90s, but it also has the DNA of the current.”

Meanwhile, The STAR asked the Introvoys drummer as to why he and his band left the Philippines in the mid-2000s. The band is best-known for the ‘90s hit songs Will I Survive, Kailanman, Di Na Ko Aasa Pa, Stay and Line to Heaven, which was composed by Paco for his late mom.

He said they relocated to the States because of family and “sumikip na kami dito.” “There was a time — people keep forgetting this — pinatay ni Paolo Santos ang career namin,” he candidly quipped before explaining, “nauso yung acoustic. Even the clubs, ayaw nila ng full band, nawala yung drum kit, naging acoustic. (It was) the rise of Nyoy Volante, Paolo Santos, MYMP, di ba?”

“So, sabi ko, America nag-o-offer ng green card, punta tayo dun. So ang Introvoys ang No. 1 OPM band ng North America kasi kami lang andun (laughs),” he added.

Aside from being busy with band performances, Paco is happy to help the likes of Cedric.

“It’s a form of being grateful,” he said when asked if he was now in the mentoring stage. “Pwede ko naman itago sa sarili ko but what if I die tomorrow or the first people you mentor are your children, but sometimes, your children want to go into a different direction. And then, someone like him comes along, pwede ‘to! We really clicked. We ended up talking and listening to each other. (Before you knew it) nag-si-synergize na kayo, nagkaroon ng flow.”

‘Di Na Ba is having a quick follow-up as Cedric is set to release another song, Gasera, on May 26. He’s also working on his own YouTube channel. There are also plans of a full-length album under his label with all tracks written in Tagalog. He had said, “When it does come, it doesn’t always come back. When something like this happens, I must take the leap and give it my 100 percent.”