In 2011, I first encountered the “tank drum” family of instruments (created by Dennis Havlena in 2007) while studying bamboo flute making and researching alternative wood tones like Agave for creating drums, didgeridoos, and more.

Partnering under the TM brand with a friend (who introduced me to the “tank drum”), I built several tank drums and experimented with different key shapes, tunings, and techniques. I posted Brazil’s first tank drum video in 2012, where I tested an experimental model on water.

In 2014, I launched my solo project, MPS (Música Para Sentir). Driven by a natural creative impulse, I produced different tank drum models for another two years. I worked in makeshift spaces and workshops until, in 2015, I established the MPS workshop in Santo Antônio do Leite (Ouro Preto – MG).

In 2016, I first saw and heard the majestic sound of the Rav Vast online. It had a profound impact on my soul and marked a turning point in my journey. I felt a strong need to transcend the limitations of smaller tank drums and create something on a new level.

New goals emerged quickly: to create a larger, more durable sound disc with a more balanced and beautiful tone, with greater sustain, and one that could be played with the hands. I remained focused on serving the Brazilian market.

In this third phase of my journey, I conducted numerous studies and experiments—exploring different shapes and diameters, types of steel, and thermal treatments. This was all self-taught. Soon, I realized another need: to add more notes to the instrument. Simultaneously, the key differentiator of my work emerged: magnetic tuning. This ensured that the instrument could always stay in tune and become multi-modal, allowing for several scales or modes on one instrument, making it highly versatile and durable. Magnetic tuning had never been explored in this type of instrument in Brazil, and it remains rare globally today, just as it was then.

Mudra’s work is exceptional, and I have been a fan since it first appeared. I had the chance to own one of the brand’s first instruments, which I enjoyed, and now, with a personalized and updated handpan, I can see the giant evolution. An instrument with a complex layout—21 notes including chromatics—was made with mastery. The final quality, from aesthetics to the smooth edges, is impeccable. Their customer service is attentive and dedicated, and the sound quality, which is the main point, is incredibly impressive. I recommend Mudra to anyone looking for an extremely high-quality handpan!