The year 2025 is coming to an end. The Handpan is booming like never before, and accordingly, Handpan Music Releases are also increasing. Not all of them are truly professional productions in times when practically anyone feels like releasing something that can be done “from the garage.”
This makes those productions that are not only produced by highly qualified musicians, but also in genuine studio quality with professional mastering, all the more striking to the eye, or rather the ear.
Here I list, in alphabetical order of artist names, what I consider to be the best, most creative, most recommendable, and most outstanding Handpan Music Releases of 2025. Namely, the 7 CD productions that I consider the most successful, plus 2 singles that I play on repeat without ever getting bored.
PS: Of course, musical taste is very subjective. I am not a music critic, but merely a (Handpan) Music lover.
The HANDPAN CD’s
DAN MULQUEEN – “Melete”
Like every production we know by Dan Mulqueen, “Melete” is once again a very creative, varied, and surprising production. The mastering is outstanding, as is the musical quality.
Dan Mulqueen continues to thrill Handpan Music lovers with his rousing and often boundary-breaking handpan music. With his elaborate arrangements and great attention to detail, he takes his listeners on a wonderful musical journey.
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DAVID CHARRIER – “Shema”
A beautiful and very soulfully arranged album in which the Handpan always hovers on the surface of the individual tracks without being intrusive or overpowering the accompanying instruments.
As a handpan pioneer and professional musician, David Charrier knows exactly how versatile and creative Handpan Music can be. And that’s exactly what he shows us on this very beautiful album.
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GOLSA NAZARI – “Unfinished Dream”
Golsa Nazari is the new discovery of the year 2025. The young Iranian, who has enjoyed and continues to enjoy many years of professional music training, produced this album as a ‘Handpan only album’ and did without accompanying instruments on all 8 tracks. Dreamy, fiery, soulful, virtuosic, and highly professional.
A truly beautiful Handpan Music album. We can already look forward to more productions from her in the future.
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JEREMY NATTAGH and YVES MESNIL – “Symbiosis”
What a great collaboration between Jeremy Nattagh and Yves Mesnil. Anyone familiar with Mesnil’s music knows how much his compositions can make you fly.
Together with Jeremy Nattagh, who not only plays the Handpan on this production but also a whole host of other percussion instruments, they have created a magnificent production that is more than just worth listening to and invites you to float away in enjoyment.
An absolutely recommendable production.
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MARCEL HUTTER – “The Resonant Path”
Marcel Hutter has already attracted attention in recent years at various festivals through his great collaborations with classical band formations.
On this great album, he takes this kind of interplay between Handpan and band musicians to an outstanding and very professional level. From flamenco to rap and high-class ‘handpan pop’, everything is included. It couldn’t be more varied.
An absolute listening pleasure for all music lovers.
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MAR LOI – “Arrels”
Similar to Golsa Nazari, Mar Loi dispenses with accompanying instruments on this album and still manages to release a beautiful, varied, and never boring production. Also worth mentioning is the brilliantly executed mastering and the soulful virtuosity of this Spanish musician.
Emotional Handpan Music to listen to again and again.
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NADISHANA – “Relict”
Unsurprisingly, world-renowned Handpan pioneer, outstanding virtuoso, and multi-instrumentalist Nadishana once again presents a highly professional production. From handpan solo tracks to brilliant musical collaborations and arrangements, this album has it all. Track after track, it is a real treat for the listener.
It’s amazing how virtuosic Handpan Music can be produced.
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The HANDPAN EP’s
KABECAO and Victor Sakshin – “Three Eyes”
This EP is almost a CD, as the track lasts a good 18 minutes and is not boring for a single second. The production could be described as “India fused with the Handpan.”
Victor Saksin’s voice harmonizes perfectly and extremely originally with Kabecao’s handpan playing. In a word: A really magical track.
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MANU DELAGO and DOUGLAS DARE – “One Thing”
In this outstanding track, the incomparable voice of Douglas Dare meets the hang of Manu Delago. As a listener, you can hear and enjoy the fact that both musicians are not only consummate professionals but also incomparably creative, soulful, and highly professional producers on this beautiful track from the first to the last second.
As always, Manu Delago guarantees first-class Handpan and Hang music productions in diverse and creative collaboration with top-class musicians.
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Additional listening tip:
My actual, personal “Handpan & Hang & Tongue Drum Music Selection” with all the artists listed here and many more, from pioneers such as Dante Bucci, Swarup, and Daniel Waples to lesser-known artists such as Martin Kälberer or Rishiraj Kulkarni and Vitaly I.V.A and many more…..(68 tracks, playtime: 6h 44min) on Apple Music. Enjoy listening.
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