Waagal: The One-Man Handpan Band

Did you just discover Waagal in one of his videos, where he plays the handpan while accompanying himself with several other instruments? Want to know more about this artist? What path and career shaped this endlessly creative musician?

I first came across Waagal in 2018 through his now-famous duo with Mezerg. Ever since, I’ve been regularly keeping up with the news, shows, and projects surrounding this musician, whose performances are deeply tied to the handpan.

By reading this short article, you will learn:

• How Waagal emerged
• His discography

That way, you’ll learn everything that’s most interesting about Waagal, and you’ll feel a stronger connection between the musician and his creations by understanding his influences and inspiration.

Now, let’s set off together to discover the world of Waagal.

How did Waagal’s handpan one-man band project begin?

Erwann Texier-Harth, alias Waagal, hails from Bordeaux. Born in 1993, he was immersed in music from an early age: he started piano at age 3, then studied cello from 7 to 14. As a teenager, he fell in love with the guitar (starting at 15), then discovered the didgeridoo and percussion, constantly expanding his instrumental palette. This eclectic background—ranging from classical to world instruments—shaped the versatile musician he would become. Around 2013–2014, Erwann began playing several instruments simultaneously, including the handpan, laying the foundations for his one-man band concept.

In 2014, at only 21, Erwann Texier-Harth launched his solo project, Waagal. The name Waagal is directly inspired by Australian Aboriginal mythology: the Wagyl (or Waagal) is the sacred rainbow serpent of the Noongar people of Western Australia. This isn’t a random choice—it reflects the musician’s connection to cultures around the world, especially Australia, the homeland of the didgeridoo, which he weaves into his music. Like the mythical serpent said to have created rivers, Waagal aims to infuse his compositions with an almost spiritual, organic dimension. His personal motto sums up his approach: “When the two hemispheres of the brain unite to create new music rooted in the distant past.”

From the outset, Waagal first performed on the streets across Europe, offering improvised solo sets that stopped passersby in their tracks. For three to four years, he travelled throughout France, Italy, and England as a street artist, refining his show and building real momentum with audiences. Building on that experience, he eventually brought his “dreamy music” to the stage. Starting in 2018, Waagal toured various festivals and venues across Europe, and even as far as India in early 2020 (notably through the Alliance Française network). His self-taught journey, from the streets to international festivals, is a testament to genuine passion and hard work. His 2017 track “Chakra” captures that chapter of his career perfectly—you can listen below:

What is the discography of handpan player Waagal?

Since 2014, Waagal has built an already impressive, fully self-produced discography. To date, he’s released two studio albums, several EPs, and a compilation album, along with many singles, collaborations, and videos that have met with major success (some have even racked up millions of views on YouTube). His first two self-produced albums—Ensō (released in 2015) and Nebula (2017)—laid the groundwork for his universe. Sold in more than 2,000 copies, mostly at concerts, these records already explore a wide musical and conceptual spectrum. Nebula, for example, takes listeners on a cosmic, mythological journey with evocative track titles (Kukulkan, Osiris, Gaia...) that reveal Waagal’s fascination with ancient myths.

In 2018, Waagal teamed up with another French one-man band, Mezerg, for the unique project “Music for 2 One-Man Bands.” Filmed in a single take, the performance features both musicians playing their full instrument setups in perfect sync. Shot outdoors in Listrac-Médoc, Waagal plays the handpan, didgeridoo, and rainstick at the same time, while Mezerg handles the piano and drums (kick drum, snare drum, hi-hat). This offbeat collaboration perfectly captures the innovation and camaraderie of the independent music scene. Waagal said the idea was to “combine our two one-man bands and try something new,” preserving the raw energy of a live performance in one continuous shot. The result is striking and has been praised by the handpan community. You can watch it below:

In October 2019, Waagal set himself a technical challenge with the single “Monism”: he plays two handpans at once, plus didgeridoo and guitar—a true one-man-band feat. The Monism video, produced in partnership with Octant Studio, gained strong traction online. Also in 2019, he composed the original soundtrack Di Vin Sang for a one-of-a-kind animated film (adapted from a comic book painted with wine by artist Mauro Ceballos). The project, the culmination of two years of work, reveals another side of Waagal: a film composer able to put his talent at the service of a visual story.

In 2020, Waagal released his compilation album “Cluster.” This album looks back on his recent experiments by bringing together tracks that had previously been released one by one (the single “Co-Incidence,” a duet with Indian guitarist Shashank Verma, “Monism,” etc.), along with a few unreleased pieces (such as Tengu and Kemet). At the same time, he put out numerous live videos during this period, including a series of “Lascaux Sessions” filmed in the extraordinary setting of the Lascaux caves. He had the opportunity to perform his track “Sirius” inside the famous decorated cave, creating a magical resonance between his music and this prehistoric site steeped in history. This timeless performance highlights Waagal’s ability to build bridges between art and history.

In 2021, Waagal released an ambitious new studio album titled “Monad,” his third solo album of original compositions. Available in a limited edition on vinyl and CD, Monad pushes even further into complex rhythms and world sounds, while also incorporating touches of overtone singing and ancient languages. Standout tracks include Ainulindalë, a nod to Tolkien’s cosmogony, as well as other pieces with enigmatic titles in proto-languages. This album showcases Waagal’s artistic maturity, balancing instrumental virtuosity with richly evocative atmospheres.

Step into the wonderful world of the handpan, just like Waagal

In just over a decade, Waagal has forged a strong artistic identity as a visionary multi-instrumentalist who pushes musical boundaries while honouring ancestral traditions. Now that you’ve read this article, you have all the key details about this talented artist, who masters the handpan to perfection.

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A musician specializing in relaxation and sound therapy, discover Jérémy Arndt, a handpan player who creates melodies that are both gentle and spellbinding. His many musical projects have earned him international reach, making him one of the best handpan composers among many other talents.