About us
I am Chirag Vaitheeswaran, founder and maker of Chirp Handpans. I welcome you to Chirp, where every instrument carries a unique story that creates memories, not just melodies. From shaping steel to coaxing melody, we breathe life into every creation of ours, adding a little more joy to the world.
What began as a small workshop in Bangalore has grown into a collective of sound sculptors sharing a single goal – to create instruments that connect people to the world’s purest vibrations.
An evening by the beach
Where Our Journey began
As the sun was setting in the Kudle beach in the December of 2013, I witnessed the handpan being played for the very first time. My journey with Indian Carnatic Music and the piano had long been burried then – a vocal nodule putting a tragic end to my singing career. My spark for music was re-ignited when I saw this instrument; an instrument capable of creating melody and percussion at the same time, a concert in itself!
I was not alone in search of a good Handpan
A Distant Dream for the Artists
I wanted an instrument, but soon realized that there were only about 4-5 makers – and all of them had their waiting lists full. I finally got a handpan in the December of 2014 , paying upwards of $1500 for the instrument and shipping, only to realize that what I was sold was not of good quality. As I started to play the handpan, I met many artists around the country – intrigued by the handpan, in love with it, but unable to afford one – due to the high cost + shipping + import duty.
I Realized what my True Calling was
And I had to get Started
For two years, 2015-2017 – I spent 8 hours as an engineer at Microsoft and 8 hours a day hammering in my workshop, self-learning the craft – I created a scrap pile of over 100 shells. In February of 2017, I had the opportunity to meet, and spend time with Matthieu from Shellopan – learning the craft from the master, asking the right questions and moving forward in the right direction. Thereafter, I had the opportunity to interact with a several makers and progress forward with crafting beautiful handpans.
From Ghatam, To Ghatam, With Love
The Circle Completes
In Dec 2017, when Daniel Waples visited Bangalore, I showed him the handpan prototype I had crafted. I had evolved from a fanboy to a friend by then, opening his stage in Bangalore. It was in this concert that he introduced me as Bangalore’s very own handpan maker. I then meet Sumana Chandrashekar – an eminent Ghatam artist, who asks me to make an instrument for her. I get to craft and deliver a beautiful handpan for Sumana in Aug 2018. From the pantam being invented by Swiss steel pan makers for an Indian ghatam artist, to India having its own maker –
We complete the circle!
From my father's basement to a multi-floor workshop
A New Identity for Bangalore
By October of 2018, I realized that solving the problem of making handpans affordable and accessible, would be impossible with two 8 hour jobs – a manager at Microsoft, and another as a Handpan maker. Hence, I quit my job from Microsoft and pursued my passion into crafting handpans full-time, and Chirp Handpans was born!
Today, Chirp Handpans at Bangalore houses India’s highest selling & most premium Handpan Crafting Workshop, delivering authentic & artful sound sculptures for the world.
Stories From the Circle
In the press
