Amy Naylor: the voice of the handpan — biography and influences

Have you recently heard one of Amy Naylor’s melodies played on one of her handpans? Are you wondering how she rose to the international spotlight with this percussion instrument? Curious about how she discovered the hang drum?

It’s been more than five years since I first discovered Amy Naylor through the free tutorials she shares on YouTube. Since then, I’ve regularly checked out her new musical compositions, and I’m always delighted by the sweet sounds she creates. In this article, I’ll paint a clear picture of Amy Naylor for you.

By reading it to the end, you will learn:

• How Amy Naylor discovered the handpan
• The distinctive style she has developed on this percussion instrument
• Her discography

As a result, you’ll learn everything there is to know about this young artist, who remains unique in the handpan world. You’re bound to uncover a few sonic gems that are sure to make your day.

Now, let’s dive into Amy Naylor’s musical career.

How did Amy Naylor discover the handpan?

Amy Naylor is a British artist born in 1996 or 1997 who has been immersed in music since childhood. Around campfires at festivals, she learned to sing and play percussion from a very young age. At school, knowing only a few chords, she wrote her first songs on the back of her vocabulary notebook, finding it easier to create her own music than to learn someone else’s. This early creativity led her to record and release her first work as a teenager. She released her first tracks in the mid-2010s (for example, A Brave Thing in 2014) and went on to self-produce several albums and EPs over the years. By the end of the 2010s, she’d already released two albums, multiple EPs, and even a live album, all while playing local gigs in pubs and at festivals. Her early songs tackle themes close to her heart—identity, politics, the environment, and community—with the hope of inspiring and bringing people together.

In 2014, Amy Naylor discovered the handpan, a relatively new acoustic instrument with soft, ethereal tones, and it was a revelation. She fell in love with this “melodic drum,” which perfectly matched her musical vision. She quickly developed a personal approach to the handpan: she began by covering popular songs using loops to layer patterns, which immediately got her noticed in the scene. Her playing blends intricate rhythms with soothing melodies, woven together with her voice and lyrics to create captivating original pieces. That’s exactly the technique she uses in her handpan cover of Billie Jean, which you can watch right here:

Within a few years, Amy Naylor established herself as one of the emerging artists on the handpan scene. “I grew up with a handpan on my lap,” she says with a smile, since she started playing around age 16 or 17. That long-standing connection with the instrument helps explain her early musical maturity. Making the handpan her main focus was a defining choice for Amy. She quickly made a name for herself in the community, performing at international festivals alongside other handpan standouts such as Malte Marten, Kabeção, Jérémy Nattagh, and more. In concert, her stage presence captivates audiences like few others, thanks to the genuine emotion she pours into her music.

Although she is best known for the handpan, Amy Naylor is a multi-instrumentalist. Her background includes playing taiko, the large Japanese drums. Alongside the handpan, Amy also began playing taiko in 2014, training with the Humber Taiko group in her native Yorkshire (northern England). She quickly became immersed in this art form, to the point of joining the Humber Taiko teaching team a few years later. Amy is also part of a taiko group called Coritani, a trio she formed with Emma Middleton and Lisa Oliver, the founders of Humber Taiko. Together, the trio explores performances that combine Japanese percussion with other art forms such as singing and melodic instruments. Coritani has performed throughout the United Kingdom, as well as in Europe and the United States at festivals, conferences, and percussion-focused shows. You can see Amy Naylor on the right in the video below:

Sharing her knowledge and passion is an integral part of Amy Naylor’s approach. A teacher at heart, she offers a variety of resources for learning the handpan, both in person and online. Amy is an instructor on the MasterTheHandpan (aka Handpan Dojo) platform, the largest online academy dedicated to this instrument. There, she offers a comprehensive course called “Express and Create,” where she shares her creative playbook: improvisation techniques, original compositions, and tips for accompanying singing with the handpan. Her certification in music education (Trinity College) and her experience in music pedagogy guarantee structured and supportive lessons. Click here to access Amy Naylor’s course on Master the Handpan.

On her own website, Amy has also set up the "Handpan Connect: Playful Voice" training program, which aims to help players feel confident singing while accompanying themselves on the handpan. This course, based on a three-week workshop she used to lead in person, includes songs specially composed to train the voice and the instrument simultaneously, as well as fun exercises to help players get comfortable singing. The goal is clear: to free everyone’s inner voice and enrich handpan playing through vocal expression, all in a joyful and uninhibited way.

Amy Naylor is also very active on YouTube, where her channel Amy Naylor – Handpan Connect has over 48,000 subscribers. Every week, she posts free tutorials, performances, and tips to help you improve. One of her most popular initiatives is the #Handpanuary challenge: every day in January, Amy posts a new handpan routine or pattern to learn, inviting the community to practise daily for 30 days. This challenge, which is completely free, has been a huge success and returns every year. Thanks to these videos, many beginners have been able to take their first steps with the handpan, while more advanced players find inspiration to enrich their playing.

Amy regularly interacts with her community on Instagram (under the username @amy_naylor_smiles) and Facebook. Her posts—whether moments from her tours, glimpses into her daily life, or thoughts of the day—always reflect her positive mindset. She often reminds her followers of her motto: “Use music to spread positivity, compassion, and joy.” A loyal community follows her and supports her projects, particularly via her Patreon page, where more than a thousand members access exclusive content (videos, sheet music, private workshops) while helping to keep her art alive.

Treat yourself to a handpan that unlocks your full creativity

4.6/5 — 500+ Reviews

View the concert handpan

What musical style has this musician developed with her percussion instrument?

Amy Naylor’s appeal lies in her unique style, which combines technique, soul, and kindness. For her, music is a universal language of connection: she is convinced of its power to bring strangers together, strengthen community ties, celebrate nature, and refocus on oneself. This philosophy guides each of her performances and workshops. Amy seeks to create spaces where the magic of music works its wonders and helps human connection bloom.

Her repertoire is eclectic and deeply spiritual. She composes and performs what she calls “modern mantras,” meaningful songs that invite reflection while often being playful or lighthearted. Her melodies are both poignant and joyful, constantly evolving as she travels and meets new people. Amy readily incorporates elements of nature into her music: playing in different environments or with other musicians inspires her to find new sounds. For her, every emotion can be translated into music.

Her approach to creation is holistic, drawing on her entire musical experience. A singer with a soft voice and an accomplished percussionist, she combines singing and handpan in an unusual way that has become her signature. She also draws on other genres (sometimes incorporating elements of pop into her handpan compositions) to push the boundaries of the instrument. Amy is also trained in music therapy and holds a diploma in music education from Trinity College London, and it shows in her soothing playing and her focus on well-being—her music spreads positivity, compassion, and joy. Listen to one of her popular melodies, which she has named "Thank You Mother":

What is the discography of this artist and hang drum player?

Amy Naylor’s musical output is already rich and varied. Here are some of her major works:

• A Brave Thing (LP, 2014): one of her earliest albums, released before she was 20. It marks her official debut as a songwriter.
• The Sea Maid EP (2015): an EP that explores fresh sounds, inspired by the sea (as the title suggests).
• Mellea (World Chill Out Mix) (2016): a track/album with electro-world influences, showcasing Amy’s sound experimentation.
• Breathe (2017): a meditation-oriented release (including handpan improvisations), reflecting her interest in music therapy.
• Slacktivist (LP, 2019): an album with an evocative title combining “slacker” and “activist.” Amy playfully explores the tension between engagement and inaction, set to catchy melodies.
• Things I’ll Never Say – Live Journal #1 (LP, 2019): a “live journal” project where Amy shares deeply personal compositions. It’s also a live concert recording that captures the energy of the moment—her first live album, and a great showcase of her authentic stage presence.
• Wondering (Handpan Flows) (LP, 2022): released in 2022, this mostly instrumental album brings together handpan “flows,” meaning improvised or semi-composed pieces that highlight the instrument’s contemplative, spontaneous side.
• Cardinal Calling (2022): a standout single from 2022. The song Cardinal Calling is inspired by a North American songbird and later appears on the album The Earth Teaches. Amy also went on to record different live versions.
• The Earth Teaches (album, 2023): Amy Naylor’s flagship album, released on January 31, 2023. Made up of 12 tracks with a total runtime of around 53 minutes, it’s a love letter to nature. Amy describes it as “a promise to take care of our Mother Earth, to look out for one another, and a celebration of the beauty of life.”
• Australis Live (live album, 2024): in 2024, Amy released a very special live album in a duo with percussionist Rosie Bergonzi under the name PortaBanda. Australis Live is a compilation of 14 tracks recorded during their joint 2019–2020 tour across Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.

This discography, though not exhaustive, shows just how prolific Amy Naylor is. Whether it’s studio projects, conceptual EPs, reimagined covers, or live recordings, she is constantly exploring new facets of her art—each release reflecting her personal and musical evolution while retaining the unifying, positive touch that characterizes her sound.

Conclusion

In just a few years, Amy Naylor has built a musical universe that reflects who she is: authentic, inclusive, and constantly evolving. Starting with a notebook of songs scribbled down at school, she has become an accomplished artist who performs on the international stage and inspires a new generation of handpan players. After reading this article, you now know more about this world-renowned artist.

However, if you want to recreate some of Amy Naylor’s compositions, you’ll need a high-quality handpan with impeccable acoustics. That’s exactly why I recommend Instruments du Monde, and more specifically the Harmonie model, which not only features a breathtaking design but also produces enchanting notes.

Get your Harmonie handpan now by clicking on the image below:

Compose thousands of melodies with ease on this stunning handpan

4.6/5 — 500+ Reviews

View the Harmonie handpan

On the young handpan scene, it’s also worth mentioning Jacob Cole, an excellent American player who first developed a passion for percussion instruments before turning mainly to the handpan, making him one of the best percussionists playing this instrument today.