Multi-instrumentalist Abby Clutario to release a unique cover of UDD's 'Tadhana' using a chapman stick

Meet Abby Clutario. She's a Filipino vocalist, keyboardist, Chapman Stick player, producer, and composer who is set to release a unique cover of OPM band Up Dharma Down's hit song, "Tadhana."

On the cover song, she will be performing the vocals and playing the Chapman Stick, an electric instrument with approximately 10-12 strings.

Abby is only one of two chapman stick players in the Philippines, the other being her student. 

She is the only female chapman stick player in the country to boot, too.

She said picking "Tadhana" as her first single was a collaborative decision with Mr. Kedy Sanchez.

She shared, "When he asked me to do a cover, nung sinabi nya, "Why don't you do 'Tadhana'? Sabi ko naman, 'why not?' Kasi syempre ito ay isa rin sa mga most requested na mga songs kapag kunyari ako ay nagpe-perform."

According to Abby, she would usually perform the song using the piano. "And then, sabi ko, 'Oo nga, parang maganda nga siyang gawin sa chapman stick,' so naging iba din 'yung kinalabasan niya. I'm happy na sinuggest 'yun ni Sir Kedy kasi I really also like the song. Syempre, Up Dharma 'yan diba?"

Abby is also a member of the progressive rock band, fuseboxx. And around the same time the band lost their bass guitar player, she first acquired the chapman stick.

When her bandmate suggested she use the 12-string instrument as a sub for the bass, "dun ko naumpisahan syang aralin."

The chapman stick has bass strings in the similar range as a bass guitar. Unlike the guitar however, the chapman stick isn't plucked or strummed. "It's a tapping instrument," Abby said.

The chapman stick was invented by jazz guitarist Emmett Chapman sometime in the 1970s. According to Abby, Emmett was trying to discover a new way of playing the guitar, and he discovered tapping. Thus, the chapman stick!

The instrument is popular in Europe, and it has a presence in the USA, Japan, and Indonesia.

"My main instrument is keyboard," Abby clarified. And though she's been gigging with the chapman stick for a decade now, she says "I'm still learning about [the chapman stick]."

"I really, really encourage 'yung mga, minsan yung mga tao na lumalapit sa 'kin, 'yung mga kapwa 'kong musiko din na sobrang interested sila kasi parang nga syang, ano, e, parang syang a little bit of everything. Pwede syang maging piano, gitara, bass guitar, diba, a little bit of drums, too, kasi very rhythmic 'yung pwede mong i-apply sa kanya na pagtugtog."

The single, "Tadhana" by Abby Clutario, will be available on January 20 worldwide under GMA Music and its sub-label AltG Records. It will be available on digital platforms, such as Spotify, iTunes, and YouTube Music. Fans can also request their favorite radio station to play it on the air. — LA, GMA Integrated News