Everything You Need to Know About the Hang Massive Duo

Are you passionate about the handpan? Have you recently listened to a song by the duo Hang Massive that really moved you? Would you like to know more about this legendary group known around the world?

As a Hang Massive fan myself and someone who follows their latest updates, I can share all the information you’re looking for about these two musicians.

By reading this article, you will learn:

• How Hang Massive was formed
• What musical instruments the duo prefers to play
• Which of their best-known tracks they’ve composed
• How to see Hang Massive live in concert
• And where to buy their CDs or albums

This way, you’ll get all the information out there on Hang Massive and satisfy your curiosity about these two percussionists.

Now, let’s take a look at how Hang Massive came to be.

How did the band Hang Massive come about?

The group, or Hang Massive duo, was born from a chance meeting in the summer of 2010 on the shores of Goa, India. It was there that Danny Cudd and Markus Johansson, also known as Markus Offbeat, decided to form what would later become a true landmark in the world of the handpan, or Hang drum.

But let’s rewind a few years. Danny Cudd was born in England. He started playing the clarinet and saxophone at school, and when he began travelling, he picked up many other instruments, including various percussion instruments and the didgeridoo. It wasn’t until 2005 that Danny discovered the handpan—five years after its invention in Switzerland by PANArt—at a festival in Slovenia. He was immediately captivated by its sound and acoustic vibrations, eventually buying one the following year and starting to play on the streets of London. In 2006, Danny Cudd met Daniel Waples, another big name in the handpan world, at a festival in England. Together, they formed the group Hang Playing Hedge Monkeys and composed melodies together, even releasing an album called Vesica Piscis, until 2010, when they split up mainly due to the challenge of being based in different places. It wasn’t long after that Danny Cudd met Markus Johansson.

Markus Johansson was born in Sweden into a family of musicians. His father was a drummer, while his mother played the saxophone. At an early age, his father gave him a small ukulele because his hands weren’t big enough to play the guitar yet. Like his friend Danny Cudd, he played an instrument at school—in this case, the violin—for about three years. He discovered the Hang in 2006 at a festival in Barcelona, Spain, and quickly made a name for himself among the small community of Hang players in Sweden.

When they started out in 2010, Hang Massive performed almost exclusively in the street, to the delight of passers-by. At first, the duo played a Hang and a djembe before switching their set-up to two Hang drums. The turning point that sparked a major wave of popularity was the release of a video on their YouTube channel on 29 December 2011. More specifically, it was a video of one of their songs, “Once Again,” which has been viewed tens of millions of times. It’s largely thanks to this video that the Hang, or handpan, became so popular and widespread. Watch Hang Massive’s famous “Once Again” video below:

From that point on, Hang Massive’s success only continued to grow. Collaborating with other musicians such as Victoria Grebezs, The Many Rivers Ensemble, Bleecker (aka Adam Winchester), and Digital Samsara, they produced several albums including “Beats For Your Feet” (2012), “As It Is” (2013), and “Luminous Emptiness” (2018). Singles and EPs are also part of their discography, which you can find in full on Discogs or Deezer. They’ve also toured Europe, Russia, and Australia, sharing their music with an international audience.

When it comes to their inspirations, the two members of Hang Massive say they’ve been practising Dzogchen, a set of teachings and techniques for spiritual awakening from Tibetan Buddhism, for over 10 years. Dzogchen, meaning “great fullness” in Sanskrit, is said to have been the cornerstone that helped the two artists form a deep friendship while giving their music room to flourish creatively. Danny and Markus were introduced to this practice by their guru Candice Rinpoche, a descendant of a long line of lamas devoted to Dzogchen.

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What percussion instruments do the musicians of Hang Massive play?

The duo Hang Massive is mainly known for playing the Hang, a Swiss musical instrument shaped like a flying saucer, invented in 2000—though it’s worth noting that, at first, their duo consisted of a Hang and a djembe. However, they quickly shifted to a duo with two Hang drums, leaving the African percussion instrument behind. Later, Markus Offbeat mentioned on his Instagram page that the duo also uses flutes, gongs, rain sticks, and ocean drums during rehearsals for their tours, showing their ability to reinvent their sound by adding new instruments.

The handpan brands used by Hang Massive in their performances are mainly instruments from the PANArt brand, which stopped producing the Hang in 2013. It’s also worth mentioning that, since 2018, Hang Massive has had a paid partnership with Yishima, an Israeli handpan maker that supplies them with instruments. As a result, most of Hang Massive’s performances since then have been played on Yishima handpans, which the duo recommends in their videos, earning a commission on each sale.

What are the most famous songs by this handpan band?

Among Hang Massive’s best-known songs are Omat Odat (2012), The Secret Kissing of the Sun and Moon (2018), End of Sky, and Warmth of the Sun’s Rays (2019). You can listen to one of these songs in the video below:

How can I see Hang Massive live in concert?

The best way to see Hang Massive in concert is to follow their updates, which are shared on their Facebook page, their Instagram account, or directly on their official website. That’s where they let fans know about upcoming shows. For example, in 2024, the Hang Massive Tour took place, with the duo performing in dozens of cities across Europe, including Spain, England, Switzerland, and France.

Is there a CD or album of these artists’ compositions?

The only way to get a Hang Massive CD is to buy it directly from their official website for just under A$30 each. You can sometimes find them second-hand, but it’s quite rare. You can also stream or download their albums on platforms like Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music. If you already have a subscription to those platforms, listening won’t cost you anything extra.

Get yourself a handpan and play like this outstanding duo

Hang Massive is undoubtedly one of the handpan acts that has left the biggest mark on lovers of this flying saucer-shaped percussion instrument. With rich, varied melodies, the two artists have showcased their natural talent for creating and composing harmonious, hypnotic pieces. With the information in this article, you now know everything there is to know about Hang Massive.

However, Danny Cudd and Markus Johansson would never have reached this level of popularity without high-quality instruments. If you want to improve and truly grow with a handpan, it’s important to choose a solid model. Personally, I recommend picking one of the instruments sold by Instruments du Monde. With over 40 models available, you’re sure to find the right fit for you.

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Another instrumentalist who rivals Hang Massive in popularity is Malte Marten. I have written a comprehensive article about him. To learn more about the various artists and musicians who specialise in the handpan, read my article dedicated solely to this fascinating subject.