Mar Loi: Biography of This Spanish Handpan Player

Have you recently listened to one of the melodies played by Mar Loi, a Spanish musician whose instrument of choice is the handpan? Want to learn more about her life and career? Which albums, tracks, and collaborations has Mar Loi released?

I only discovered Mar Loi fairly recently, in 2024, after randomly stumbling upon one of her videos on YouTube. Her groove instantly pulled me in, so I started digging into her inspiring musical journey. Now I’m excited to share what I’ve learned about her with you.

In this article, you’ll discover:

• How Mar Loi got started with the Hang drum
• Her albums and musical projects
• Her personal commitment to teaching this percussion instrument

By the end, you’ll feel closer to this artist who has spent the last few years refining and elevating her handpan style—for your listening pleasure.

Now, let’s dive into this article dedicated to Mar Loi’s life.

How did Mar Loi get started with the handpan?

Mar Loi, whose real name is Mar Loi García Ascanio, was born in Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands. Passionate about teaching, she first earned a degree in physical and emotional education and worked as a facilitator with children. However, at 26 (in 2017), she chose a new direction to pursue her love of music. That year, she discovered the handpan, a melodic percussion instrument invented in the early 2000s, and its sound captivated her right away. Self-taught, Mar Loi began learning on her own and performed on the streets of Barcelona as a busker.

At the same time, she trained in SoundArt to deepen her knowledge of sound creation. These immersive experiences helped her quickly shape a musical world of her own. Her first steps on the Spanish handpan scene drew attention, and the community was soon praising her talent and originality. Based in Catalonia (first in Barcelona, then in Girona), Mar Loi began performing regularly in concert. Even before releasing her first album, she had already built a strong local reputation, thanks in particular to mesmerizing performances at jam sessions and handpan festivals.

What sets Mar Loi apart on the handpan scene is her deeply personal style—technical, rhythmic, and profoundly emotional. Nicknamed “Lady Groove” by some for her natural sense of rhythm, she creates richly layered musical atmospheres. Her compositions have been described as “little sonic canvases, filled with landscapes where you can unwind and daydream,” yet they still make you want to move with the groove. Mar Loi has a gift for blending rhythmic precision with melodic sensitivity, and it resonates straight with listeners’ hearts.

Each of Mar Loi’s compositions moves through several distinct phases, shifting between calm passages and intense rhythmic surges, as if multiple stories were unfolding within a single piece. That depth means you’ll catch new details with every listen: her tracks are both “food for the soul” and a playground for the curious, analytical ear. The result is music that invites introspective meditation while sparking awe at her rhythmic virtuosity. You can hear it for yourself by listening to one of her most popular pieces, “Sea is Home,” in the video below:

What is this handpan player’s discography?

Although Mar Loi only began her career in 2017, she already has a rich discography that reflects her rapid artistic evolution. Each release marks an important milestone in her journey:

• Mercury Found Mars (2020): Mar Loi’s first solo album, a deeply personal record that propelled her onto the international handpan scene. Released in March 2020, Mercury Found Mars unveils the world of “Lady Groove” through original compositions where emotion meets infectious rhythm. The album received an enthusiastic response and enabled Mar Loi to embark on her first European tour. Critics highlighted its deep grooves and refined execution, instantly revealing her artistic signature.
• Género Desconocido (2022): her second album, created through a collaborative project called JOI—a duo formed by Mar Loi and musician Jozz Sajim . Together, they explore new textures by blending handpan with didgeridoo and flutes, creating a distinctive world-music atmosphere. Released in 2022, Género Desconocido (Spanish for “Unknown Genre”) reflects Mar’s desire to break out of familiar frameworks. This collaborative record adds another dimension to her playing by letting the didgeridoo’s low vibrations and the handpan’s melodies truly converse.
• Grises (2023): her third album (and second solo release) marks a turning point in Mar Loi’s career. Recorded in the post-pandemic period with bassist and producer Vic Moliner , Grises expands her sonic palette. The handpan remains front and centre, enriched by additional percussion, synthesizers, bass lines, and even a few vocal textures. The album weaves together “stories born of the pandemic,” reflecting both moments of doubt and bursts of hope from that time. Grises showcases Mar Loi’s ability to place her favourite instrument inside broader arrangements—on the edge of ambient, jazz, and electronic experimentation.

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Beyond these major albums, Mar Loi continues to expand her repertoire with new compositions and collaborations. In 2024, for example, she released the single Light Layers as a duet with singer Mia Lev—a track full of melodic delicacy. That same year, she released Caer, the result of a collaboration with beatmaker Bobay Beats. More recently, in 2025, Mar Loi unveiled Tonada de luna llena, a piece created with musicians Irene Zugaza and Sara Sambola. These one-off projects highlight her constant desire to explore, as she effortlessly blends her handpan “voice” with other musical worlds.

What other projects does this percussionist have in the pipeline?

Throughout her young career, Mar Loi has taken part in many collaborative projects that have broadened her musical horizons. In addition to the JOI duo with Jozz Sajim mentioned above, she co-created the Korama project alongside artist Amarok. Mar Loi has also been sought after by various musicians and groups, captivated by her exceptional playing. For example, she collaborated with the Ketekalles group, a very popular all-female act in Spain, on a track blending handpan with Spanish folk-rock.

Beyond being an accomplished performer, Mar Loi cares deeply about sharing her passion. Drawing on her background as an educator, she naturally moved into teaching the handpan as soon as opportunities arose. Since 2020, she has regularly led workshops, intensives, and masterclasses for learners at every level. Whether in Barcelona, on her native island of Tenerife, or even in Geneva, Mar runs sessions where she introduces participants to handpan techniques and the instrument’s rhythmic and melodic possibilities. She also offers private lessons and immersive musical retreats, providing personalized guidance for students who want to develop their own creativity.

Mar Loi has also become an instructor on the MasterTheHandpan platform, a global reference for learning handpan online. There, she teaches a masterclass titled “Believe in your inner creativity,” designed to help musicians find their path through the instrument. Her approach emphasizes personal expression, the search for new sounds, and trusting your musical instincts. Discover this masterclass directly on the official Master the Handpan website. There’s no doubt this kind of training can help you take your playing to the next level.

In Spain, Mar Loi is actively involved in the handpan community. Based in Catalonia, she helps organize the annual Singading Gathering in Barcelona, a friendly event that brings together players and enthusiasts for jam sessions and workshops. She is also associated with the Kurdeolian school in Barcelona, where she trains the next generation of handpan players. Her influence extends beyond the stage: Mar Loi works to build a community around the handpan, promoting exchange and goodwill among musicians.

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Mar Loi embodies a new generation of handpan artists for whom the instrument is more than a sonic curiosity: it’s a true means of artistic expression and human connection. Her journey, from Tenerife to the international stage, shows how quickly the handpan is gaining prominence in today’s musical landscape—driven by passionate, innovative artists like Mar Loi. With the help of this article, you’ve now learned much more about this percussionist’s career.

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Among the younger generation of handpan players, alongside Mar Loi, it’s also worth mentioning Michaël Akortia, a percussionist with a gift for composing across many instruments. In doing so, he has built a strong reputation and has become a handpan specialist appreciated for the emotions his pieces evoke.