Malte Marten, the Handpan Virtuoso

Have you recently discovered Malte Marten’s talents? Want to learn more about this outstanding handpan player? How did he discover this instrument? And can you see him live in concert?

As someone who follows the handpan scene closely, I’ve been keeping up with Malte Marten’s journey for several years. In this article, I’ll share the key details you’re looking for about this world-renowned artist.

Once you have read this article, you will know:

• The story of Malte Marten and his discovery of the Hang drum
• His discography
• The musical instruments he uses in his artistic performances
• The concerts and masterclasses given by Malte Marten

In short, you’ll learn everything there is to know about this musician who has become a worldwide reference in the handpan scene. It’s a great way to feel closer to his work and, perhaps, draw inspiration from his distinctive playing style.

Let’s now take a look at how Malte Marten discovered the Hang.

What is Malte Marten's biography?

Malte Marten is a German musician born on 30 December 1994, in Berlin, according to one of his Instagram posts where he mentions, on 30 December 2024, that it’s his 30th birthday. Before discovering the handpan, he kept his musical background fairly private—so much so that very little is known, aside from the fact that he owned beat-making and DJ gear. In the summer of 2014, Malte Marten—who practises meditation regularly—attended a 10-day retreat in Austria to deepen his relaxation and well-being practices. It was there that he encountered a curious musical instrument shaped like a flying saucer: the handpan. Back in his hometown in Germany, he searched online and discovered the famous song “Once Again” by Hang Massive. After watching it just a few times, he knew he had to get one for himself. He describes it as a revelation.

That very day, he visited a Berlin music shop called “Innersound” to order a Hang drum. Three weeks later, his first instrument arrived. During the first few months, Malte played his handpan non-stop, sometimes even forgetting to eat and drink, saying he would go into a trance while composing. He then began performing in public, playing melodies in the streets and parks of Berlin for anyone who stopped to listen. That same summer, he met another musician, Alexander Mercks, at a small festival in northern Germany. The two quickly became friends and formed the duo Yatao.

Between 2014 and 2021, Malte Marten developed his handpan playing with Alexander Mercks in Yatao. Then, the group split up for personal reasons. I discuss Yatao’s success in this other article. Since 2021, Malte Marten has pursued his handpan journey entirely solo. He says he devotes all his energy to this project—and it’s clearly paid off, with millions of views across his YouTube channel and Instagram. Through crowdfunding, he financed his first studio album in 2021, titled “Lifeline,” raising just over £13,510.

Since then, Malte Marten has offered “retreats” for those who want to deepen their handpan practice—multi-day, off-the-grid experiences—as well as workshops that give participants a full immersion into the instrument’s world. He also organises numerous concerts worldwide, especially across Europe. On a more personal note, Malte Marten is an avid yoga practitioner and is said to be a fan of the Indian yogi Paramahansa Yogananda. He is also the father of a boy and shares his life with his wife, whom he sometimes features in his posts and videos, such as the one below:

Does Malte Marten give concerts?

Malte Marten does indeed give concerts on a regular basis. To see where he’s playing next, you can check the Bandsintown website, which lists newly announced dates for these events. You can also visit the artist’s official website or social media accounts. Recently, he organised the Malte Marten Tour across Europe, including stops like Zurich, Switzerland, and Dublin, Ireland.

Is it possible to take hang drum lessons from this percussionist?

Absolutely. With his level of skill, Malte Marten offers lessons for beginners, even though he’s also considering training future handpan teachers in the near future. If you’d like to begin the musical adventure that is the handpan with Malte Marten, you can enrol in his masterclass, called "Malte Marten Method," which includes more than 150 tutorial videos. However, I personally recommend the lessons he offers on David Charrier’s Master The Handpan platform. I’ve taken them myself and noticed a significant improvement afterwards. Click here to discover Malte Marten's masterclass.

Interested in purchasing this artist’s albums?

Malte Marten has produced several albums, including "An Ode to the Moon," "The Journey," "Healing Frequencies," and "Yellow" in collaboration with Timbaland. Most of them can be downloaded from platforms such as Apple Music or Amazon Music. You can also buy the albums on CD from the artist’s official website for around £20.

Which other handpan players has he composed songs with?

Many other musicians have collaborated with Malte Marten to compose melodies. For example, he has performed duets with Konstantin Rössler, Chantress Seba, who accompanies him with her gentle voice, and Johann Immanuel. There is also the fabulous collaboration with Luna Mando, who pairs classical guitar with the handpan. A beautiful musical moment you can watch just below:

What are the best songs performed by Malte Marten?

Among Malte Marten's best-known and most popular songs are:

• Seeds of Growth
• Sun and Moon Meditation
• A Message from the Stars
• Aurora
• Abundance
• Ashakiran
• Reflections
• The Seeker
• When the Wind Talks

Most of these have millions of views on YouTube or Spotify.

What instruments does this musician play?

Of course, Malte Marten mainly plays the handpan. As for the brands he uses, there are quite a few. You can hear him playing models by MAG Instruments, a Hungarian manufacturer, Atlas Handpans from London, Ayasa Instruments, a Dutch maker, and Yatao Shop, his own brand.

Reproduce Malte Marten's melodies with an excellent handpan

Malte Marten is one of the most impactful artists in the history of the handpan for anyone passionate about this astonishing instrument. With a style all his own, he captivates listeners with hypnotic and soothing melodies that only he seems able to create. When it comes to composing, he’s simply remarkable. That’s why, for many handpan enthusiasts, he’s truly one of those musicians you can listen to on repeat.

Now, it’s important to know that Malte Marten didn’t succeed on creative energy alone. Without outstanding instruments, he couldn’t deliver performances at that level. That’s why, if you’d like to reproduce his songs, I usually recommend the models available from the Instruments du Monde online store. You’ll find more than 40 handpans with incredible tone so you can play at your best. For example, this superb model in D Kurd is ideal for beginners who want to get comfortable with this percussion instrument.

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To learn more about Malte Marten’s life, it’s also worth exploring Alexander Mercks, his playing partner with whom he founded the group Yatao. He’s also one of the world’s best handpan players.