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Alien Drum by 8Dio - Virtual ‘Hang Drum’ Instrument

July 21, 2013, 1:01 pm
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If you’re into producing electronic music, Hang/HandPan, cool-looking Alien stuff, or preferably all three, you’ll most likely find ‘Alien Drum’, by 8Dio, of interest.  8Dio is the company founded by Academy Award winning, ‘Troels Folmann and Tawnia Knox’, and 8Dio’s range of high quality ‘virtual instruments’, have been featured within such Hollywood Blockbusters as: Avatar, Transformers 3, and the Dark Knight Trilogy, in addition to the music of: Massive Attack, Daftpunk, and Britney Spears.

Alien Drum, or rather Alien Drum mark 2 (‘The New Alien Drum’ - as featured in the embedded video), is a virtual ‘Hang Drum’ instrument, featuring the sounds of the PANArt Hang. Offering up a ton of samples across multiple playing techniques (palm, slap, hand brushing, etc.), all recorded at an average of 15 velocity layers, with 10 round robin repetitions per layer/note. Throw in a multitude of effects, and patches, all controlled via a pretty funky looking Alien themed user-interface, and what we have is a pretty effective (and certainly cost effective) mechanism for adding the heavenly sounds of the Hang to your compositions, without having to fork out an arm and a leg for a genuine PANArt Hang.

For more information, watch the embedded video, and/or head over to the 8Dio website HERE to make purchase.

*The Virtual Hang / Hang samples being offered for free (at time of writing) by 'Dark Arps', found HERE, may also prove of interest.

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Bass Halo HandPan - from Pantheon Steel

August 1, 2013, 10:40 am
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Officially unveiled at Hanpangea 2013, were these rather interesting ‘Bass Halo’, from Pantheon Steel.  With a single tuned note per side, in a much lower register than can be achieved on a standard Halo, these Bass HandPan are pretty revolutionary in terms of the new depths of sound they’re capable of bringing to the world of HandPan music.

To get some idea of what I’m talking about, check out the video of Kyle Cox (the Halo maker) using a number of these Bass Halo, in a rig, complete with foot pedals, to see how this kind of set-up could elevate HandPan music to a whole other level.  Or imagine the possibilities for collaborative play.

The downside of this being, that while a few of these bass Halo do seem to have found their way out into the wider HandPan community, with Pantheon Steel known to be aiming to produce somewhere between only 100-200 Halo in 2013, and with the massive demand that exists for pretty much anything that leaves their workshop, even if these 1-2 note bad-boys are quicker to produce than a standard Halo, chances of getting your hands on one, are presumably, slim.  Even if these are to be offered commercially, rather than being simply concept pieces.
However, with that said, it wasn’t so long ago (at time of writing) that getting your hands on any ‘Hang-inspired’ instrument, made for a considerable challenge.  So that while Pantheon Steel may have led the charge with regard to this form of bass HandPan, no doubt, if the demand is there, other makers will soon follow in fashion.  Either with exact copies, or with their own variations...
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Buying a HandPan - Import Duty and Taxes

August 20, 2013, 8:13 am
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With (at time of writing) many HandPan fans being unable to purchase an instrument from a native maker, often, it is necessary to import your chosen HandPan from abroad. When doing so, it's always wise to at least attempt to calculate import duties and taxes prior to purchase - not just because these charges can be sizeable, but also because it helps you calculate the total ‘real’ price of any given pan, when comparing your options.

For example: a Bali Steel HandPan purchased at a cost of €974 (approx $1200) direct from the makers in Bali, imported into Austria, would accrue (unless you get lucky) an additional €232 (approx $310) in duty and taxes (3.2% import duty rate, and 20% VAT).  Bringing the total price to around €1200 ($1500).

A Symphonette HandPan bought from Dave’s Island Instruments in the States for around £765 ($1200), imported to the UK,
 would accrue an additional £213 ($333) in import duty and taxes. Bringing the total price up to around £1000 ($1550) - again, with a 3.2% import duty rate, and 20% VAT.

Import duty and tax rates can vary significantly per country.  Importing the Bali Steel Handpan from the first example, into Vietnam, would incur an Import Duty of 3%, and taxes of 10%, while importing the very same Bali into Egypt would incur duties of 30%, and tax at 10%.

To figure out the duty and tax (and possible additional charges) you might face when importing a HandPan into your country, you might find the following website of use: DUTY CALCULATOR

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An Interview with Dante Bucci - By Colin Foulke

October 16, 2013, 10:44 pm
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We have been incredibly lucky here this week at HandPans Magazine, because HandPan musician, tutor, and all-round ambassador for these singing steel creations, ‘Colin Foulke’, was kind enough to grab us an interview with one of the original, and continually legendary Hang/HandPan performers of our times, ‘Dante Bucci’ - star of the Philly music scene, and one of the most watched HandPan performers of all time, with his YouTube videos having garnered millions of views. And additionally, Dante is also the composer of one of our own favorite HandPan compositions to date, ‘Flagelolet’ (from his recently released (at time of writing) début full album, 'Kinesthesia' - which can be purchased on iTunes: HERE, or at CD Baby: HERE).

Interview Highlights (and videos from the new album):

Colin: Dante Bucci, what was your first musical instrument?

Dante: I think my first musical instrument was a little plastic guitar, I was three years old, and I think I sat on it, and broke it...  But, it was piano.
 I started taking piano lessons in first grade, I guess that’s how my music career got started...

Colin: Can you tell me a little more about your musical background…

Dante: Well, the piano lessons, and singing.  Singing has been a major thing, since, I guess, elementary school.  And all through high-school, and college... In college I started to pick up other things, like a little guitar, and hand percussion.  Actually hand percussion was a thing that was there for a long time, but I never really recognised it, until somebody put a set of bongos in front of me - and then that sort of took off...

I got congas, and djembe, and doumbeks, and all that kind of thing.  So yeah, mostly that as I progressed into late college, when early after graduating, I decided that I kind of liked the obscure, and unconventional, such as the singing bowl, and the didgeridoo, then I sought the weirdest things I could find, like the Theremin, and the musical saw, so, that was the progression there...
Colin: How did you hear about the Hang?

Dante: The Hang was described to me, by a lovely gentleman, at the Philadelphia folk festival, in 2006.  He, and I, had been jamming in a camp ground at the folk fest - I had seen him many years prior to that, he was a regular, I had been going since 2000, and he’d been going since the 70’s - we were making some music, and at the end of the jam session he turned to me and said, “you seem like the kind of gentleman who would appreciate this instrument I just saw”, and he didn’t have one, but he described it to me, he spelt it out: “H-A-N-G” - and I went home; and I Googled it...

Colin: What year was that?

Dante:  That was 2006.
 I found Ron Kravitz, In Philadelphia, who was local, so I gave him a call.  And he said that he happened to be going over to Switzerland shortly to bring back a batch, and his waiting list was pretty much full, but I was on the extended list, in case other people couldn’t afford one, and had to bow out.  And I was lucky, when he came back, he had a pan for me.  So I went over to his place, I went to his basement where he had like thirty of these Hang lined up - and I ran around and hit the Ding on every one, and then picked the one which sounded the best...

Colin:  And what generation was that?

Dante: The first one I got was a D Minor, I believe second generation, it was not one of the officially listed scales, it was just at that time that they were playing with the D Minor, and various other notes, but pretty much all of the same tonality...

Colin: What is the name of your new album, and the inspiration behind it?

Dante: Following on from the 2008 EP, ‘Reminiscence’, the new full length album is called, ‘Kinesthesia’.  The title is a word that means ‘your sense of where your limbs are in relation to the rest of your body’...  If you’ve ever had a sobriety test, and they tell you close your eyes and touch your nose, that’s Kinesthesia right there, knowing how to find things in space just by feeling, and that’s definitely useful when I’m playing, because I sometimes play more than one at a time, and I can’t look at all places at once, so that was the inspiration there…  And it’s basically all the songs that I’ve written so far that I like, including a couple from my 2008 effort...

Colin: What HandPans will you be playing on the new album?


Colin Foulke's HandPans and
Sound Sculptures -
Intermediate to Advanced
Available for sale: HERE
Dante: The F Major, and the D Minor, are pretty much all over it.  The Kourd Atar makes an appearance on one or two songs, and the Bells Jibuk, on one song…

Colin: What is your favorite HandPan/Sound Model you’ve ever played?

Dante: I guess I would have to say my favorite is one I own, because I’m the most familiar and intimate with those… The BellArt, the Jibuk scale, is probably my favorite at the moment, because it’s allowed me to do a lot of different melodies. And it’s versatile enough that you can get a lot of different Christmas songs out of it, and I’m working on a Christmas album right now.  I’ve just found that to be the most dynamic, and versatile scale so far...

Colin: Any dream Scales, or ones you’d like to see made on a HandPan?

Dante: My Halo, the one I recently got - was exactly what I asked for.  I haven’t had a chance yet to really focus on it.  But I would say that that, having the B natural, having the F sharp, and the C sharp - it has all the notes that I’ve been coveting for a long time, and it has that smoky sound to it that I feel has a lot of potential…  Really what I would want, is a proper chromatic set-up, that I could just learn, and write everything on from now on, and not have to worry about what pans to bring to a gig… it’s gotten to a point that if I want to play my whole repertoire I have to bring and shuffle around like five pans, which is a little inconvenient…

Colin: Any singing saw on the new album?

Dante: No - I did a little singing saw on YouTube, and in the studio - and under the microscope of the studio, it was not up to par, and it felt kind of unnecessary…  I didn’t feel that it was a good fit, and I didn’t want to force it...

Colin: Any thoughts on PANArt’s new creation, the ‘Gubal’?

Dante: “The Gumball!” - I saw the video, and I think it’s fascinating - I kind of just want to spin it like a top...  I haven’t had the chance to play one in person yet, but I probably will in the next couple of weeks - It just seems like another unique feature of melodic hand percussion, focusing more on the bass and percussion, than other more melodic higher-pitched pans - and I’m excited that PANArt is continuing to develop, and create…

Colin: So, what’s next for Dante Bucci?

Dante: I’m collaborating with a singer/song-writer named,
‘Angela Sheik’, and she’s very adept at, well, everything - singing, playing multiple instruments, the Theremin, auto harp, and she’s very well known for her loop-pedal skills.  And I myself, being somebody who plays a lot of different instruments, was very attracted to that…  She is instant with the melodies and lyrics, and I’m instant with the grooves and the vocal percussion thing, so the two of us together assist each other in overcoming some of those hurdles that individually we’ve encountered - and so far we have gotten a lot of positive feedback. So you can look forward to a collaborative effort between me and Angela, and we're hoping to put together some kind of EP that should be available this coming winter…

Colin: Any final thoughts?

Dante: ‘Buy my Album!’ :D - It’s out on October, 25th.  You can pre-order it on iTunes from October 1st, it’ll be available in physical format October 22nd on CD Baby, and digital on iTunes- and October 25th is my CD release if anybody is in the Pennsylvania region...

Colin: How many tracks?
Dante: Ten tracks (and I sing on one of them!). :D

Colin: Dante Bucci, thank you!

Dante: You’re welcome!

To purchase Dante Bucci's debut full album, Kinesthesia, (or simply just to check out all things Dante), visit dantebucci.com

Or alternatively, you can connect with Dante over at Facebook: HERE, or subscribe to his YouTube channel: HERE

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HandPans Magazine - The PANArt Hang, HandPan, and Hank Drum Explored

October 24, 2013, 6:44 pm
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Welcome to HandPans Magazine. A place where like you, we're very much interested in all things Hang, Hank Drum, and HandPan related. Our mission, if we have one other than documenting our own interest in, and love for these beautiful instruments, is to try and offer useful information regarding these singing steel 'sound sculptures', right here on site. While at the same time pointing you towards more in-depth resources, instrument makers, artists, the latest news, and anything else that 'tickles us' too, elsewhere on the web.
We may not always get it right. But we can promise you this, we'll never shout at you for accidentally, or mistakenly calling the PANArt Hang a 'Hang Drum' (a big 'no-no' in certain circles), and that you'll always be welcome on this site, whether you're 'lucky' enough to be deemed to 'resonate', with PANArt's 'Felix Rohner and Sabina Schärer' (and will possibly one day get to own, or already own a Hang), or not (because there's plenty of other great options out there for you too).
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Jeremy Arndt's, 'Journeys: HandPan Solo' - A KickStarter Success Story

December 15, 2013, 8:12 pm
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HandPan musician, Jeremy Arndt, recently (at time of posting) released his second album, 'Journeys: HandPan Solo', which sat pretty at the top of the BandCamp 'HandPan music charts for a good while, and still continues to rank (and  presumably also sell) well. - (you can grab yourself a copy at Amazon too).

And one of the most interesting things about Jeremy's album, other than the beautiful music itself, is the fact that the album was funded entirely (as far as we know), by a Kickstarter campaign.

If you're not aware of what Kickstarter is, it's a 'crowdfunding' platform, that essentially allows the citizens of the interweb to come together (should they consider the concept worthy) to kick in the money to bring the ideas, and dreams of those who put them forth to life.  And at time of posting, more than 5 million net citizens have clubbed together to fund over 50,000 creative projects (including Jeremy Arndt's recent release).

People who back Kickstarter projects are offered tangible rewards and special experiences in exchange for their pledges, usually relative to the amount pledged.  For example, those who pledged $25 to Jeremy's campaign were rewarded with a signed copy of the CD, advance download, and a few other small rewards.  While those with pockets deep enough to pledge $1000, were offered among numerous other benefits, a private concert at a place of their choosing.

While it's too late now to get involved in funding the production of the album being discussed, you might find a look at Jeremy's Kickstarter appeal interesting, should you be considering ways and means to either produce, or promote your own music...

You can check out the Kickstarter page: HERE - which raised over $6,500 in funding, from over 170 backers.

Other HandPan-related Kickstarter campaigns have included the successful funding of Benjamin Bogosian's Hang drum album (back in 2010).  And Tzevaot's (an American-based HandPan producing company) somewhat controversial, and ultimately cancelled attempt to crowdsource the funds for starting up their HandPan business.

Upon successful release of Journeys: HandPan Solo, Jeremy had the following to say: '...This is my second album and I have been working on the project for over 2.5 years, from when I wrote the first song. My first album included many of the instruments that I play (handpan, didgeridoo, guitar, percussion) and for this one, I wanted to strip it back to the handpan by itself and focus on "storytelling" through Handpan music. The stories are the songs written in 2.5 years of world travel through 15 countries. The songs are my emotion and feeling, as captured through the highs and lows of world travel. The album was funded via my fans, friends, family, and many members here on Kickstarter. Many thanks to everyone who contributed.' 

And should you be wondering if the $6,500 raised via Kickstarter by Jeremy went well spent - we think it was, and you can decide for yourself by grabbing a listen below...
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Buying a HandPan - with Bitcoins…

January 21, 2014, 10:41 am
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Here at HandPans Magazine, in addition to our love of HandPan, we also like a bit of tech, and at time of posting, it’s almost impossible to move on the internet without hearing about these new fangled ‘thingamajigs’ called ‘Bitcoins’. People are buying them, people are trading them, people are mining them(?), and (making them at least a little relevant to the world of HandPan for the sake of this post), people are paying for things with them.

But what are they?

Bitcoins are a kind of digital currency (often referred to as ‘cryptocurrency’), a type of peer-to-peer payment system that appears to be gaining popularity (and acceptance) with amazing speed.  Originally adopted by ‘shady types’, in the area of the internet known as the ‘Darknet’, Bitcoins have in recent years begun to seep into mainstream commerce, so that now, you can pay with Bitcoins for everything from T-shirts, and movies, through to booking your place on a suborbital spaceflight with Virgin Galactic.  Which brings us back to the world of HandPan, with Tzevaot, an American HandPan producing company announcing in January 2014, that they would be happy to accept Bitcoins in payment for one of their instruments.
At time of posting, the cost of a Tzevaot produced HandPan is $1800, while the exchange rate for Bitcoins Vs Dollars is fluctuating around $869 per Bitcoin.  Meaning that a Tzevaot Handpan will cost you just over two Bitcoins (possibly a very tempting offer for those who got in early back when Bitcoin were selling for pennies). With one of the most interesting facts about Bitcoin being, that it is possible to use computers to ‘mine’ for them (though with further reading, this is not as easy as it might initially sound).
You can find more information on Bitcoin: HERE, or visit Tzevaot at Facebook: HERE

Will more HandPan makers begin to accept Bitcoins in the future? The way things are going it seems likely, but of course, only time will tell...
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Manu Delago - Carving a Path of Steel

February 18, 2014, 11:11 pm
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If one man could be said to have pushed the boundaries of Hang (and with it HandPan) music, more than any other, to date, in our opinion, it has to be Manu Delago.  One of the first (if not thee first) Hang-playing YouTube sensations, Manu Delago, introduced many who came before the birth of most of the current HandPan, to the Hang, racking up millions of views, and creating an army of soon-to-be-fanatics (and casual YouTube admirers) of these strange metal ‘drums’...
If you’re interested in a little basic info on Manu, you can grab that here.  But this post is about observing Manu’s steps as a pioneer of HandPan music, as a man who has really made strides in terms of getting the sounds of these singing steel creations out there.  And it’s worth remembering at this point (at time of posting) that these instruments were only invented just short of fifteen years ago - this is still something VERY new - and watching what will shortly become the history of these instruments write itself before your eyes can be a fascinating thing (should you find such things fascinating).


The YouTube video starring Manu Delago titled, ‘Hang Drum Solo’ (released in 2007), has to date accumulated just short of five million views, and in addition to being among the first to introduce these new instruments to the wider world, this video featuring Manu, was arguably the strongest force in popularising at the time, the name, ‘Hang Drum’, a title that would with it’s addition of the ‘drum’ tag, to the instruments purer name ‘Hang’, go on to cause much controversy, and many hand-slappings, within the more fevered areas of the Hang/HandPan community (and continues to), where calling Hang, ‘drum’, is often frowned upon (and severely berated).
With the Hang adopted primarily (seemingly) by street performers, and traveller types in its early days (there is even a running joke on YouTube, etc. claiming that you are not allowed to play Hang unless you have dreadlocks), Manu has always stood apart from that ‘scene’, very much doing his own thing.  Manu’s early track, ‘Two Handsful of Sound’ (with its accompanying quirky video), was the first we ever heard get radio-play.  And another early Manu track titled, ‘Mono Desire’ (the official name of the track from the ‘Hang Drum Solo’ video  mentioned above), was the first Hang music (to our knowledge) to be used in a television commercial (for Nurofen Painkillers).
On through a number of eclectic and varied outfits, and albums, from ‘Living Room’, to ‘Handmade’, Manu brought the Hang to a whole new fan base when he began to perform with, ‘Sphongle’, an increasingly popular psychedelic music project, with a very loyal following.  Manu Delago has accompanied on Hang, ‘The London Symphony Orchestra’, and ‘Graduale Nobili’ (a female Icelandic choir).  And perhaps his most stand-out achievement to date, if not personally, then certainly in terms of increased exposure for the HandPan - is through his collaborations with, ‘Bjork’, the world-renowned, multi-instrumentalist singer/songwriter - with Manu featuring on Bjork’s 2011 album, ‘Biophilia’, and becoming an integral part of the accompanying musical show.  Exposing on-route as he did while performing with Sphongle, the sounds of the Hang to an ever larger fan-base…
In February, 2014 (current date at time of posting), six years after the Hang Drum Solo video began to go viral, Manu has teamed up with aspiring UK Jazz diva, Zara McFarlane, to perform on what is without doubt one of our favourite HandPan tracks to date.  One, because Manu plays impeccably (despite being unable to appear in the video due to being away on tour elsewhere), and Zara McFarlane’s powerful vocals combine with the gentle beauty of the Hang perfectly - to create an outstanding composition.  And two, because there’s nothing edgy, or arty, impromptu, or transcendental about, ‘Open Heart’.  It’s smooth, clean, polished, and easily listening - and arguably the first true 'radio-friendly' HandPan track ever put-together, and released.  Something that after years of listening to HandPan music on an almost daily basis, we have been waiting for…  

You can find it on the album, 'If You Knew Her'.

What does the future hold for Manu Delago, and what surprises will this progressive HandPan musician have for us from 2014 moving onwards?  
>> Facebook has the Answers!<<
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Eleven 'Other' Swiss Inventions

February 24, 2014, 2:37 am
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If it wasn't for one Swiss-made invention, the PANArt Hang, this website would not exist. None of us would be playing Hang, or HandPan, or dreaming of one day playing them. I wouldn't be here writing my little posts, and you would not be reading them. The festivals, and gatherings would not take place.  Viktor Levinson would not be hammering steel out in Russia, and Manu Delago, would not have toured with Bjork.  All of these things simply, would not have happened.  If it weren’t for Felix, and Sabina, two steel pan tuners, and inventors, from Switzerland.

Which got me to thinking about other Swiss inventions.  And the impact they may, or may not have upon my daily life.  And in an arguably unusual tribute to PANArt, and the lands they hail from - I share my findings below (if nothing else, knowledge perhaps, that will come in handy one day, in a trivia board game, or some such thing)...

Eleven 'Other' Swiss Inventions:

(1) The Electric Toothbrush - If it wasn't for our friends in Switzerland, none of us would have the option of going high-tech on our gnashers.  There would be 'no advanced sonic power cleaning systems', reaching the areas of your mouth that a regular toothbrush just can't.  And like a cave-man, with a stick, you'd be back to cleaning manually.

(2) LCD Displays - If you're a fan of old-school calculator watches, and microwave ovens (among many many other things), then you have good reason to thank the Swiss for inventing the 'LCD Display' (or 'Liquid Crystal Display').  
A flat panel display system, that utilises the properties of liquid crystals to display fixed images, such as letters and numbers, they can be found everywhere; from telephones, to aeroplane cockpits - and if you're from a certain era - you'll remember what typing these numbers: '5318008' into your calculator, and then turning it upside down, reads as... :)

(3) Helvetica Font - In tribute to the Swiss, for this post, and this post only, we've switched from, 'Arial', to 'Helvetica', and actually, it does not look a whole lot different.  A popular sans-serif typeface developed in 1957 by designer, 'Max Miedinger', Helvetica has been used in the logos of: Jeep, Microsoft, Mc'Donalds, and Texaco (to name a few).


(4) Velcro - The perfect invention for people of all ages who have yet to master the trickeries of tying their own shoe-laces.  A 'hook and loop' fabric fastener, Velcro was invented in 1948 by Swiss engineer, 'George de Mestral'.  And as the name, 'Hang drum', has to some degree been adopted as a name for all Hang-like instruments, aka 'Handpan', in the wider world (rather than just those produced by PANArt), Despite Velcro being the name of a particular 'brand', it is often the name used to describe any hook and loop fastener of a similar nature.

(5) Cellophane - Hard to think of anything particularly interesting to say about cellophane offhand - but that is primarily because its uses are so varied, and abundant.  You can wrap your sandwiches in it, jobs a good'un!


(6) Aluminium Foil - Perfect for hat-making crazies, and like cellophane above, also quite handy for wrapping your sandwiches in, aluminium foil, replaced 'tin foil' (which left an undesirable taste to foods) back in 1910.  In addition to food preparation, and keeping the government out of your head, aluminium foil is also used in electromagnetic shielding, insulation, and geochemical sampling.
(7) Toblerone - As a child growing up in the UK, Toblerone seemed very much to be a Christmas favourite - you wouldn't see a bar on the shelves all year long, and then suddenly, shops (and then later, Christmas stockings) would be full of bars the size of tactical rifles.  A heavenly-tasting triangular-shaped bar fusing chocolate with nougat, almonds, and honey, Toblerone, like the Hang, is a product of Bern.




(8) Bobsleigh - Without the Swiss there would be no bobsleigh, and without bobsleigh there would be no, 'Cool Runnings' (beloved 90's comedy movie following the adventures of the Jamaican bobsleigh team, starring John Candy.  Bobsleigh is a winter sport in which teams of two or four make timed runs down narrow, twisting, banked, iced tracks in a gravity-powered sled - aiming for the best times.  And the very first bobsleigh tracks were constructed in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

(9) Absinthe - At one point banned throughout Europe, and America, Absinthe is the Swiss invented drink, infamous for its supposed psychoactive properties
(attributed to the wormwood flowers and leaves used in its production).  Highly alcoholic, being as strong as 148 proof (74% ABV), those who have favoured this murky green liqueur, have included: Ernest Hemingway, Aleister Crowley, and Vincent van Gogh (who supposedly cut off part of one ear, while drinking the stuff).

(10) The Swiss Army Knife - Arguably the most iconic Swiss invention ever, the Swiss army knife, traditionally being red and featuring a white cross (borrowing from the countries national flag), is an invention that wears its origins on its chest.  A multi-tooled pocket knife, they were originally used by Swiss-German soldiers, during World War II, and in addition to a blade that conveniently tucks away inside the handle, the Swiss army knife also features such gadgetry, as screwdrivers, and can openers (with more modern additions including laser pointers, and USB sticks).


(11)  Lysergic acid diethylamide - Not content with creating one of the most potent alcoholic beverages known to man (absinthe), the Swiss went on to create, 'Lysergic acid diethylamide' (or 'LSD' for short).  A powerful hallucinogenic that comes on in the form of 'trips', that can last as long as twelve hours, LSD is often associated with 'mind expansion'.  And the drug is known to have been an influence in all kinds of great music - including The Doors, and Jefferson Airplane.  What would playing HandPan on a head full of Acid be like? - to date (unfortunately?) we can only imagine...


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Yuki Koshimoto - The 'First Lady' of the Spacedrum

February 25, 2014, 8:48 am
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This post is a small tribute to the beautiful, and talented, Yuki Koshimoto’, a HandPan performer who, at time of posting appears to have no album to sell, or band to promote, but who regardless, has become one of the most seen faces in HandPan music online - with the classic video of Yuki playing her Spacedrum in a serene looking area (embedded) - going viral, over, and over again.  

World traveller, and street performer, Yuki Kosimoto, has spoken of a journey she undertook to find something important in her life, and of how that journey led her to India, where she discovered, and adopted, a completely new, ‘way of life’.  

Later, in 2009, inspired by a busker she met in London, Yuki acquired, and began to perform, on what has now almost become a Yuki-signature instrument, the thirteen-note chromatic Spacedrum (a HandPan produced in France).  

There are probably over a hundred different copies of the Yuki vid above, littered around YouTube, titled as everything from, ‘Amazing Space Drum!’, through to, ‘Sexy girl and a Hang Drum’.  Over the past few months, we’ve stumbled across this video being shared on Facebook, and blogs, etc. more than any other. Often racking up thousands of likes at a time, on larger Facebook groups, and always drawing great praise.  

And while the argument could be made that the success of Yuki’s iconic video is partially because, let’s face it, she’s HOT! (and that she makes a pretty welcome change from dudes with lots of facial hair),
with Yuki, you come for the looks, and stay for the skills.  Because this girl can play, and still, years now since we first saw the Yuki vid, it’s a struggle to recall any other Thirteen note chromatic Spacedrum video, where the instrument is played with the same kind of flair.  And as a point of note, both Yuki, and Metalsounds (the Spacedrum makers) both recently shared a photo of a new fourth generation 13-noter, thanking each other - a well earned gift perhaps? For the huge amount of attention she has brought to the Spacedrum...
In addition to her most-viewed video, there are also some stellar performances of Yuki, performing with a didgeridoo player named, ‘Taku’, to be found on YouTube.  And while we stated above that Yuki doesn’t appear to have an album for sale, she does seem to be using her growing Facebook fan-base to promote a range of (presumably Yuki designed) jewellery (which we must admit, does look pretty cool).

Find Yuki Koshimoto at Facebook: HERE, or find more video at YouTube: HERE.


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From Pizza Pan to HandPan, in Two Years - The Aura HandPan Evolution

April 19, 2014, 7:42 pm
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Recently I posted a thread in the forums on attempting to make a HandPan from a wok, explaining that to date, we'd never seen any kind of success at this.  And then, while watching the latest (and beautiful sounding) video from Aura, I remembered that for Jon Antzoulis (the Aura maker), it actually did start off in a very similar manner.  With a 'Pizza Pan'.

Two years ago (at time of posting), Jon Antzoulis posted the following video to YouTube...



As kitchen utensil attempt videos go, this one clearly shows, that to some degree, it can be done.

A year or so later Jon Antzoulis posts his first prototype video...



And we can clearly see that things were progressing nicely.

Another six months on and we find this video...



More progress.

And then we have this...



The most recent video from Jon Antzoulis, as of April 2014, of an Aura Kurd 9.  Uploaded just two years after the pizza pan video was shared (marking the beginning of the Aura HandPan), and we're here, listening to an instrument, that to our ears; sounds incredibly beautiful.  From pizza pan, through prototypes, to a HandPan that can now boast that 'Choir of Angels' quality, that the best of these instruments are renowned for.

So that while taking a hammer to a pizza pan, may, or may not be; the best way to begin your journey as a HandPan maker (should you be considering building your own).  As the Aura maker has proven, it probably isn't the worst place in the world to begin...

You can follow the continuing evolution of the Aura at Facebook: HERE

Or at YouTube: HERE

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The Xuansound - China's First HandPan Maker

June 26, 2014, 11:33 am
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Why the news of the first HandPan to appear from China’s shores should really be of any greater importance than the first to appear from any other country, is hard to say.  But it is.  If you believe everything that’s been piped out of Televisions here in the West for the last ten years or so, China wants to swallow us up, in every niche, and in every market, China will do it, if not necessarily better, than certainly cheaper.  China, if you believe the hype, is COMING FOR US ALL, and even the HandPan is not safe from this now woken Dragon.

For years now (at time of posting) people have prophesied the coming of the ‘YamaHang’.  A mass-produced Chinese export, that would with its arrival: DESTROY THE WORLD OF HANDPAN AS WE CURRENTLY KNOW IT!!!

The Xuansound HandPan

The first HandPan to come from China’s shores, comes in the form of the Xuansound HandPan.  And the good news is, in our opinion, this is far from the cheap-plastic-Christmas-cracker-toy, that many have feared.  But is instead, the beginnings of what should blossom into a great sounding Handpan, indeed, even the early offerings that we’re listening to at time of posting, sound none-too-shabby…

And in fact, there is evidence of a growing HandPan community in China.  Something that tends to foster both demand for, and produce those with interest enough to learn the skills to make, quality instruments.

So that for now, the coming of the YamaHang, remains still to pass (though the Oval guys might be taking a stab at it).  To hear more of the Xuansound HandPan, and follow their progress, you can visit them over at YouTube: HERE.
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Hang Massive's: 'Once Again' - 51 Remixes and Counting...

August 6, 2014, 2:26 pm
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Type, ‘Hang drum’, into YouTube, and (at time of posting) the video you’ll most likely find in first position is, ‘Once Again’, by the Hang-playiing duo named, ‘Hang Massive’.  And with well over seven million views as I write this, Once Again, is arguably the single most popular Hang/HandPan track as yet recorded.  

If by some miracle, you have yet to hear it, you can take a listen below…

Seven million views and counting, is of course, highly impressive (and well deserved) - but another interesting measurement in terms of this particular tracks popularity, can be found over at SoundCloud (an online audio distribution platform that enables its users to upload, record, promote and share their sounds), where, as recently reported by Hang Massive’s, Danny Cudd, there is an ever-increasing number of remixes of this legendary Hang track being made, and uploaded (51 and counting at time of posting).

“Amazing that so many have felt moved to make these tracks!” - Danny Cudd stated over at Facebook.

And we agree.  Because as much as we love the original - there is always new inspiration to be found when others take something beautiful, and make it their own...



Listen to all of the Hang Massive remixes as a playlist over at SoundCloud: HERE, or find Hang Massive over at Facebook: HERE

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GuSkin - A Skinned Percussion Adaptation for HandPan

August 13, 2014, 3:17 pm
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Here’s an interesting thing dreamed up, and designed by popular HandPan musician, ‘Kabeção Rodrigues’, called the ‘GuSkin’.  A device, that like the ‘Dum’ (a device originally sold by PANArt - the Hang makers), slots inside the ‘Gu’* to open up new sonic possibilities, for Hang, and HandPan.

However, while the Dum was intended to lower the Helmholtz resonance of the Hang, the GuSkin, once inserted, is designed to combine the qualities of more traditional skinned drums, with those of UFO-shaped singing steel - potentially opening up a whole new world of play - and/or certainly convenience, for traveller types, who could now transform their HandPan into an instrument with a more conventional percussive sound (eliminating the need to travel with multiple instruments).


A device like the GuSkin seems perfectly designed for enhancing vertical HandPan play.  And HandPan musician, Jacob Cole, has shown that this is so (see video).  And with more and more HandPan appearing now with notes on the bottom shell too, the promises of a device like the GuSkin are many and varied.  

One argument that was raised against the device when it was first demo’d over at Facebook was concern that the GuSkin would limit the Hang / HandPan's natural sonic qualities, blocking the sounds from the instruments internal resonance chamber.  Which seems likely, but is obviously a temporary trade-off, and a choice that each player can make depending upon the mood, and situation.  

At time of posting, the GuSkin is noted as being in prototype phase, and as such, is not available commercially for purchase.  But if you’re interested (and like us, don’t have the D.I.Y skills to try and knock one up yourself), you can follow Kabeção Rodrigues over at YouTube: HERE.  And await further development, and/or future release. 

* ‘Gu’ is the name given to the hole/port on the bottom of Hang, and while technically specific to only PANArt Hang, it has to a more or lesser degree been adopted for all HandPan makes, Some makers do though have their own names for the bottom port, Pantheon Steel (the makers of the Halo), for example, call this opening the, ‘Oculus’.

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The HandPan SKILLZ of Adrian J Portia

August 27, 2014, 5:40 pm
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If we were forced to name just one HandPan musician who has really blown us away in 2014, it would have to be, “Adrian J Portia”. And I’m pretty sure that we’re not alone in this.  His HandPan performances over at YouTube are both intensely inspiring, forcing you to reach for your own Pan in a bid to let loose the pure HandPan-Ninja energies that you know you must have absorbed while watching him in action, and then sorrowfully shame-inducing, when within minutes you realise having done so, that by comparison, you play like a bumbling-idiot.  Or maybe that’s just us. :)

We don’t know much about Adrian J Portia, other than that he rocks the HandPan like a badass, often sports a mohawk, and has his hometown listed as being: “AUSTRALIA”, on his facebook profile.

So, as we find it’s often best for us to do, we’re going to let the music of Adrian J Portia, speak for itself...

Adrian J Portia Playing BELLArt BElls:



Adrian Playing the Symphonette (from Dave's Island Instruments): 



Adrian Playing an AsaChan (from Echo Sound Sculpture):



To listen to more you can check out Adrian's YouTube channel: HERE, or go check out his Facebook page: HERE.

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The PANArt Logo / Branding - As Seen on First Generation Hang

October 4, 2014, 7:48 am
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The PANArt logo, or brand, appeared across the first generation of Hang in a number of different styles.  The earliest PANArt Hang (at least from number 65, up until 759) featured the following style of brand...



The style is very similar to the PANArt logo featured on the sticker found inside each first generation Hang...


Later first generation Hang feature a different style of brand (I'm gonna' guess that it came into use somewhere in the early thousands, but could easily be wrong), that PANArt seemed to settle on for generations to come.  The same style of logo also features on later generation Hang, and can also be seen on PANArt's more recent creation, the Gubal.


The text no longer slants as it did in earlier first generation Hang.  And it tends to look a little more machine applied, than hand applied (but maybe Felix and Sabina just got better at doing it).

One anomaly, that I've stumbled across recently, can (just about - I'll try to get a better photo soon) be seen in the following photo...


Which features a small "a", in the brand.  And featured on Hang number 933.  So this particular style may have been an experimental brand that was toyed with, before the more standardised form featured previously was settled upon.

* As a point of note, first generation Hang were offered by PANArt between 2001 and 2005.  And approximately 4300 first generation Hang were produced. You can watch them being made by PANArt in the documentary titled, "Hang: A Discreet Revolution": HERE
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Secrets of the Steelpan - A Book Review by Hang-Maker Felix Rohner.

October 14, 2014, 12:19 pm
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Whether Felix Rohner would wish to be known as the “Father of HandPan” is debatable.  He has, reportedly, shown a strong dislike for the “HandPan” moniker being applied to PANArt’s own creations - preferring them to be called purely, “Hang”.  But as the inventor of the instrument type (along with Sabina Scharer), that is most commonly now known as “HandPan”, the title is fitting.

So when Felix Rohner decides to publish a book review, anybody with more than a passing fascination with this instrument form, should find interest in it.

Rohner begins the review with a nod to the work, “The Physics of Musical Instruments”, by Thomas D. Rossing, and Neville H. Fletcher.  Acknowledging its importance in both the creation of the Hang, and more recently, the Gubal.  Before continuing on to discuss the book in question, “Secrets of the Steelpan”.

Secrets of the Steelpan, is a work by one, Dr. Anthony Achong, from Trinidad.  Who, according to Felix Rohner, has spent a life-time, working with “sounding sheet metal”.  

Secrets of the Steelpan is, Rohner states: a 1200 page extensive study, and summary of this lifetime of work, and experimentation with steel, by Achong. Before continuing to explain why the information contained within this tome, is of so much importance, to the modern-day tuner...

>> Read the Full Review Here<<


* It has been noted by some, that Secrets of the Steelpan is quite a technical work. And could make for a challenging read, for those with little familiarity with the art-form.
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HandPan Studio Recording Session Bundles - Studio Volta Recordings

November 3, 2014, 12:16 pm
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It has recently been announced that “Hardcase Technologies” have teamed up with “Studio Volta Recordings” to offer HandPan studio recording session bundles.  And while we don’t know a whole bunch as yet about the Studio Volta Recordings themselves, Hardcase Technologies do bring something to the table that could make this an appealing offer for those interested in recording a studio-quality Handpan album of their own, over alternative recording options.

That said, Studio Volta Recordings is based in Florence, Italy, let’s get that out of the way at the start - a beautiful city that will no doubt only add to the experience of recording your album for those able to make the journey (if you’re not already lucky enough to be located nearby), but obviously, travelling to Italy, if you aren’t, isn’t going to be as convenient as hooking up with a local studio, for most.

Those who are able to make the journey however, might find certain benefits at having done so.  Hardcase Technologies, makers of what are generally agreed to be the best hard cases and transportation solutions for Handpan, in the industry, and organisers of such events as the 2013 “Dream Event”, have an increasingly long history of active participation within the world of Handpan.  And, Allessio, of Hardcase Technologies, has proven time-and-time again, that he puts his heart and soul into his Handpan-related projects.

The Handpan sound is notoriously difficult to capture fully with recording equipment, and with studio recording time rarely being the cheapest of commodities, a studio that is already familiar prior to your arrival, with ways and means of best capturing the sounds of singing-steel, could shave a significant cut off of your faffing-around time, allowing you to get straight on with the recording, and as we can see from the videos uploaded to the Studio Volata Recordings YouTube channel, these guys now have considerable experience with recording a number of different Handpan makes.  And to our ears, the results sound very pleasing.



Packages start at 479 Euro for eight hours of studio-time.  And Studio Volta Recordings are able to produce your album for you in either Jewel Box, or Digipack, in batches from 100 upwards.  

For more info you can visit the Hardcase Technologies website: HERE.  Or browse the Studio Volta Recordings YouTube channel: HERE, for more examples of what they have to offer.

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Heat Treatments and HandPan Colouration

November 24, 2014, 8:22 am
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You may have noticed that while HandPan do come in various different colours, the most common colouration for a HandPan is a blueish / greyish hue - and there is reason for this.  Most (if not all) HandPan undergo heat treatments as part of their creation process, and it is these heat treatments that (unless other means are used to artificially colour the instrument) are responsible for the colour of the HandPan.  

The colouration itself is primarily a side-effect of the heat treatments upon the steel from which the HandPan is formed, with the heat treatments being used to modify the strength of the raw steel, by exposing it to specific temperatures, in a prescribed manner.  And the colour is formed from an oxide-layer that forms upon the steel during the heating process.

As mentioned before a blueish hue is among the most common to HandPan, and we can see from the chart (right) that this occurs at around 575°F / 302°C.  An interesting example of different temperatures used in these heat treatments affecting the final colouration of HandPan can be seen in the work of Pantheon Steel.  Earlier generation Halo all exhibited a strong blue colouration, while more recent examples (at time of posting) display a more golden-brown to purple finish - showing that the temperature of the heat treatments used in the creation of more recent Halo, are somewhat lower.

You can watch a video from Live-MetalArt demonstrating heat treatments upon a HandPan below...



While the following video provides a great introduction into the purposes of heat treating steel, for those wishing to understand the process more fully...

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The Moods and Emotions of Different Musical Keys

December 9, 2014, 6:09 am
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HandPan tuned to different musical keys can vary in flavour considerably.  But how do you put the differing moods and emotions conjured up by the various musical keys into words(?). The following descriptions penned by Christian Schubart, in his work, 'Ideen zu einer Aesthetik der Tonkunst' ('Ideas for a Aesthetics of Music'), back in 1806 - are just one of many attempts to do just that...

C major - Completely pure. Its character is: innocence, simplicity, naïvety, children's talk.
[Video of a Spacedrum in C major: HERE]

C minor- Declaration of love and at the same time the lament of unhappy love. All languishing, longing, sighing of the love-sick soul lies in this key.
[Video of a Live-Metart HandPan in C minor: HERE]

Db major - A leering key, degenerating into grief and rapture. It cannot laugh, but it can smile; it cannot howl, but it can at least grimace its crying.--Consequently only unusual characters and feelings can be brought out in this key.

D major- The key of triumph, of Hallejuahs, of war-cries, of victory-rejoicing. Thus, the inviting symphonies, the marches, holiday songs and heaven-rejoicing choruses are set in this key.
[Video of a Saraz HandPan in D major: HERE]

D minor- Melancholy womanliness, the spleen and humours brood.
[Video of an Innersound HandPan in D minor: HERE]

D# minor - Feelings of the anxiety of the soul's deepest distress, of brooding despair, of blackest depresssion, of the most gloomy condition of the soul. Every fear, every hesitation of the shuddering heart, breathes out of horrible D# minor. If ghosts could speak, their speech would approximate this key.

Eb major - The key of love, of devotion, of intimate conversation with God.
[Video of a Gaia HandPan in Eb major: HERE]

E major- Noisy shouts of joy, laughing pleasure and not yet complete, full delight lies in E Major.
[Video of a Saraz HandPan in E major: HERE]

F major- Complaisance & calm.
[Video of a Bali Steel Pan in F major: HERE]

F minor- Deep depression, funereal lament, groans of misery and longing for the grave.
[Video of a Live-Metalart in F minor: HERE]

F# major - Triumph over difficulty, free sigh of relief utered when hurdles are surmounted; echo of a soul which has fiercely struggled and finally conquered lies in all uses of this key.

F# minor - A gloomy key: it tugs at passion as a dog biting a dress. Resentment and discontent are its language.
[Video of a Saraz HandPan in F# major: HERE]

G major- Everything rustic, idyllic and lyrical, every calm and satisfied passion, every tender gratitude for true friendship and faithful love,--in a word every gentle and peaceful emotion of the heart is correctly expressed by this key.
[Video of a Sonobe HandPan in G major: HERE]

G minor- Discontent, uneasiness, worry about a failed scheme; bad-tempered gnashing of teeth; in a word: resentment and dislike.
[Video of a Saraz HandPan in G minor: HERE]

Ab major - Key of the grave. Death, grave, putrefaction, judgment, eternity lie in its radius.

Ab minor - Grumbler, heart squeezed until it suffocates; wailing lament, difficult struggle; in a word, the color of this key is everything struggling with difficulty.

A major- This key includes declarations of innocent love, satisfaction with one's state of affairs; hope of seeing one's beloved again when parting; youthful cheerfulness and trust in God.
[Video of a Saraz HandPan in A major: HERE]

A minor- Pious womanliness and tenderness of character.
[Video of a Spacedrum in A minor: HERE]

Bb major - Cheerful love, clear conscience, hope aspiration for a better world.

Bb minor - A quaint creature, often dressed in the garment of night. It is somewhat surly and very seldom takes on a pleasant countenance. Mocking God and the world; discontented with itself and with everything; preparation for suicide sounds in this key.

B major- Strongly coloured, announcing wild passions, composed from the most glaring coulors. Anger, rage, jealousy, fury, despair and every burden of the heart lies in its sphere.

B minor- This is as it were the key of patience, of calm awaiting ones's fate and of submission to divine dispensation.

(!) You can find more information on the characteristics of musical keys: HERE
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