Abby Clutario adds a fresh flavor to ‘Voltes V’ theme

“Voltes V: Legacy” — GMA Network's Philippine adaptation of the Japanese anime series “Voltes V” — has indeed sparked a newfound buzz and affinity from a whole new generation. Its iconic anthem, “Chichi Wo Motomete,” no doubt, also played a big part in this phenomenon.

Composed by Asei Kobayashi/Akira Aoi and performed by Ichiro Mizuki, the title loosely translates to “Searching for Father” or “In Search of Father,” expressing the heroism of the characters, their loyalty and passion for their mission and the longing they feel for a father figure.

With the “Legacy” fever still hot as ever, multi-hyphenate indie artist Abby Clutario joins the craze, skillfully infusing the iconic anthem with her distinct style, revitalizing the beloved tune and giving it a fresh sound.

Singer-songwriter and Chapman Stick player Abby Clutario INSTAGRAM PHOTO

Clutario, an AltG Records artist, is a local pioneer in playing the Chapman Stick, an electric musical instrument with 10 to 12-tuned strings. She opted to provide a twist to the song by arranging it using the instrument, creating the perfect soundtrack to ease everyone's soul. It was back in 2020 when Clutario thought of making a rendition of the song.

“I thought of adding a twist to it — rearrange the song and give it a twist because the original song was intended for male vocals. Additionally, I performed it on the Chapman Stick instrument,” Clutario said in Filipino during an online media conference.

“This is actually the first Japanese song I've ever performed. In a way, it's a dream come true because I was given the chance to play it to a much wider audience. I feel very overwhelmed and, of course, grateful to AltG Records and GMA Music for this opportunity. I'm truly happy,” she added.

According to her, she paid homage to the original composition while infusing it with a Filipino touch.

“Since this song came from my childhood and I've been listening to it, I already have some familiarity with its melody. So, all I have to do is re-learn the song and adapt it to my voice. As for the arrangement, I studied it using a Chapman Stick because its chords are different, requiring some adjustments. I also studied the language to make it feel more connected and justified. In my version, which will be released under ALTG Records, there's a slight twist from the original. You'll hear some additional elements that will bring the song to life,” Clutario shared.

Along the way, she faced some challenges, especially in dealing with the Japanese language. “It was indeed a challenge because I didn't want it to sound like slang in Japanese or have an accent. I didn't add Tagalog lyrics here, but I guess it still has a Pinoy arrangement,” she added.

Despite that, her single was well received, as Clutario's revival of the iconic anthem “Chichi Wo Motomete” debuted at No. 4 on iTunes PH's Top 100 Songs chart on the day of its release.

Clutario's rendition of “Chichi Wo Motomete” is now available on all major digital streaming platforms worldwide.