Michaël Akortia: the “Groove Master” of the handpan

Have you just heard about Michaël Akortia? Have you listened to one of the melodies composed by this brilliant handpan player and drummer? Want to learn more about this French artist?

I discovered Michaël Akortia in 2021, when his album Synchronicity was released, and I quickly became fascinated by the pieces he created. So I took a deep dive into his career, and I’m ready to share everything I’ve gathered since then.

In this article, you will learn:

• Michaël Akortia’s biography
• The discography of this artist and Hang player

That way, you can step into his sonic universe and fully immerse yourself in the compositions he’s crafted. It’s the best way to feel closer to Michaël Akortia and his music.

Let’s dive in and explore this percussionist’s journey.

Who is Michaël Akortia, the renowned handpan artist?

Michaël Akortia is a musician from a family with French, Armenian, and Ghanaian roots. From a very young age, he felt drawn to music, especially rhythm. At just six years old, he told his parents, “Mom, Dad, I want to be a drummer!” A few months later, he found himself on stage, playing for an audience of several hundred people, who immediately picked up on his natural talent for percussion. From there, it only made sense that he’d pursue a music-centered education—his true passion.

After twelve years of training at music school, Michaël Akortia was eager to expand his horizons far beyond the drum kit. He set off on a musical world tour: for seven years, he traveled to study with renowned teachers and joined jam sessions on every continent to sharpen his rhythmic vocabulary. In each country, Michaël learned humbly from the best and soaked up local traditions, gradually weaving them into his own style. Whether learning African percussion or playing in improvised orchestras, he realized that music is a universal language he wanted to share wherever he went. Those years on the road also gave him space to explore other passions, like sports, and discover music therapy—reflecting his holistic view of music as a path to well-being.

Building on these experiences, Michaël Akortia discovered the handpan, that UFO-shaped melodic instrument, and made it his go-to means of expression. His background as a drummer gives him a uniquely rhythmic approach to the handpan, enriched by the many influences he picked up throughout his travels. His sound is a bold blend of genres and textures: Michaël pairs classical elements with African percussion rhythms, and fuses electro drum & bass beats with the handpan’s deep, meditative resonance. Having lived in Japan for several years, Michaël has even earned the nickname “Groove Master,” as his sense of rhythm and percussive handpan playing captivate local audiences. You can watch one of his performances in the video below:

It’s also worth mentioning that, before fully devoting himself to the handpan scene, Michaël was known by the stage name “Dreamikx-Bass” in the contemporary music world. He was a founding member of the French collective Prends Ta B.A.F., where he got his start as a beatmaker and percussionist.

What is the discography and musical projects of this artist who has mastered the Hang Drum?

As an accomplished artist, Michaël Akortia already has a solid discography that reflects his journey and the people he’s met along the way. Here’s the list:

• 2021 – Synchronicity: first solo album (15 tracks). A musical journey inspired by a trip in 2016, recorded with the help of the B.A.F. Productions collective in France. The album blends African percussion (balafon, mbira), electro, and handpan, with international guests (e.g., Shimako Sarumaru, Dizastar Di Africano).
• 2021 – Slow Please (EP): a collaborative project with Yasuo Senda (Japan) and featuring Okerap (a Japanese rapper). Released in September 2021, this 5-track EP explores electro-acoustic textures, from laid-back lo-fi to driving, upbeat rhythms—capturing the spirit of friendship and jamming that shaped the project.
• 2022 – YU & MI: duo album with pianist Yukiko Fuku. Recorded in 2020 and released in August 2022, this opus pairs the clarity of the piano with handpan melodies. The result is a soothing, immersive experience, somewhere between world music and contemporary classical.

Alongside these releases, Michaël Akortia has traveled the globe, performing at countless events and handpan-focused festivals. For example, in 2022, he delivered a standout performance at the Tokyo Handpan Festival, a country he’s developed a special affinity with. He also appeared on a Japanese TV program, as more and more viewers grow curious about this metallic, flying-saucer-shaped instrument. Through the magic of melody and rhythm, he can carry an audience from Paris to Accra, from Yerevan to Kyoto.

On top of that, Michaël Akortia is especially active on social media, with thousands of followers on YouTube and Instagram. There, you’ll find original melodies, as well as tutorials and rhythmic challenges he sets for his audience. Finally, as an educator, Michaël Akortia has shared his passion for music and the handpan by becoming an instructor on the Master The Handpan platform. He offers an online masterclass titled “Groove Mastery”, a nod to his “Groove Master” nickname, designed for intermediate to advanced players. Inside the course, he shares his techniques for developing groove and rhythmic creativity specifically on the handpan.

Become a master of rhythm with a quality instrument

Michaël Akortia embodies a new generation of nomadic musicians, drawing on the richness of multiple roots and far-reaching travels to create something deeply personal. Through the handpan, an instrument that’s still young (it emerged in the 2000s) and wrapped in mystery, he found the voice that lets him synthesize his cultural heritage and lived experiences from around the world. Now that you’ve read this article, you definitely know more about Michaël Akortia.

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Now travel even farther east—to Russia—to discover another handpan musician: Kiril Osherov. A specialist in ethnic percussion, he has made this flying-saucer-shaped instrument the centerpiece of his artistic work, becoming one of the world’s best-known handpan players.