Singing solo again brings back Aubrey Caraan’s fight
To newer fans, Aubrey Caraan is better known as an actress—the glamorous it-girl Sam Vera in the TV adaptations of the popular “University Series” novels. But unbeknown to many, she entered showbiz as a singer. And it’s not unusual for her to catch people by surprise when she takes the stage and that voice comes out.
It didn’t come to her naturally, though, she insists. Her sister was actually the singer, and watching her, Caraan figured she couldn’t be the one with no talent of her own.
“Sabi ko sarili ko, magvo-voice lessons ako! I did it for years,” she tells Lifestyle Inquirer. “I wasn’t born a singer, so I had to work hard for it.”
Once she felt she was good enough—and brave enough—Caraan started joining amateur singing competitions, making the rounds of barangays and towns in her native Batangas.
There could be as many as 60 contestants. No age groups here. She was eight, going up against older kids or teenagers. “‘Yong ibang mga kalaban ko 15 years old na. So iba na ang voice nila. Mas marami silang experience at mas malawak na ang isip nila,” she says.
Sometimes she beat them. “Pero kapag finals, wala na,” she says, laughing. But at the very least, she knew she had the nerve to perform in front of big crowds. In 2008, at the age of 10, she competed in the talent search “Pinoy Dream Academy: Little Dreamers” and placed fourth. No bigger audience than national television.
“Mas naging confident ako na kaya ko,” she says. “Sabi ko, kung kinaya kong makipag-compete sa mga teenagers, dito pa kaya na may age category?”
Total performer
Caraan was set on pursuing a career as a solo singer, but Viva Entertainment boss Vic del Rosario had another plan when she signed with the company—putting her in the girl group Pop Girls instead.
“I underwent voice and dance workshops for around two years,” she says. “Boss Vic told me, ‘I want you to become a total performer.’”
With all the training and experience she gained performing with Pop Girls, Caraan can safely say she has grown into a “well-rounded artist.” But she didn’t know that would include acting.
“Mas maraming nag-open na doors,” Caraan says of the success she has had in shows such as “Avenues of the Diamond,” which she co-headlined with Lance Carr. She also plays a major role—the simple, pure-hearted Sally—in the upcoming local adaptation of the Korean drama “Fight for My Way.”
Back to her roots
While acting has brought her more visibility and earned her leading lady status, the 28-year-old actress is grateful that she still gets the chance to record new music—and now, return to her roots as a solo singer.
Caraan’s recent singles include “Bali-Baliktarin,” a pop song whose upbeat vibe belies its rumination on what-ifs, and “Sabihin Mo Na,” a breezy ballad about someone waiting to confess their love. She also put her own spin on Hotdog’s “Panaginip” for “Bongga Ka Day: The Album.”
“I’m so happy nakabalik ako sa singing career ko kasi dito ako nagsimula,” says Caraan, who admits that going solo again has been quite the adjustment. Being part of a group had made her complacent and dependent on others onstage, she admits.
“Dati minsan ‘di na ako masyadong nagpe-prepare kasi group naman kami. Isa lang naman galawan. Nakalimutan ko na may solo parts pa rin kami where we have to shine,” she says. “Naging comfy ako. Nanibago ako. But the fight in me came back. Kasi all eyes are on me again. I have to really focus on my performance.”
Taking a leap
Caraan dreams of collaborating with one of her childhood idols, Sarah Geronimo, and one day holding a solo concert. “I’m praying for a chance to showcase my talent and tell my story with songs,” she says.
Doing musicals is also something she hopes to explore—to sing, dance, and act all at once. In fact, she has tried out for a few in the past, including “Bongga Ka Day,” though the timing hasn’t worked out yet. But that won’t stop her from trying. If there’s one thing she has learned from her journey so far, it’s that one way or another, you have to take a leap of faith.
“You need to learn how to take risks. Because even as you achieve your dreams, newer, bigger ones come up,” she says. “Kahit anong opportunity dito sa showbiz, go lang ako kasi I want to explore more. I don’t want to be stuck in my comfort zone.”
“You need to learn how to take risks. Because even as you achieve your dreams, newer, bigger ones come up.”
Navigating Asean’s future