How
PanStream
Began
A Journey Shaped by Sound
PanStream was born out of a lifelong obsession with sound, craft, and the pursuit of musical perfection.
At the heart of PanStream is Mark – a maker, tuner, and unapologetic perfectionist when it comes to instruments. For Mark, sound isn’t something you compromise on. If the tuning isn’t right, if the resonance doesn’t sing, the instrument simply doesn’t leave the workshop.
In the early days, this dedication meant frequent trips to the scrapyard, unloading prototype pans that didn’t pass his own exacting standards. It wasn’t a waste – it was learning, refining, and listening.
From Trinidad to the World of SteelPans
Mark was born in Trinidad & Tobago, the birthplace of the SteelPan, and his journey began in his early teens at the local panyard. Under the guidance of Showin, he learned not only how to play, but how to shape, tune, and understand the sweet science behind SteelPan sound. Those formative years – surrounded by rhythm, community, and tradition – laid the foundation for everything that followed.
In the early 2000s, Mark continued his SteelPan journey in London, joining the renowned Glissando SteelPan Orchestra. Alongside playing, he became deeply involved in making and tuning instruments, working with SteelPan legends such as Bertrand Paris, Rudy Smith, and others.
It was during this period – immersed in craftsmanship at the highest level – that the idea of PanStream truly began to take shape.
The Shift to HandPans
Years later, what started as a fun side project in Mark’s back garden turned into something much more.
Experimenting with HandPans quickly captured his imagination – the sound, the physics, and the challenge of translating SteelPan knowledge into a new form.
That curiosity grew into passion, and passion into purpose. Gradually, PanStream transitioned from SteelPans to HandPans, carrying over the same old-school methods of metal shaping and precise tuning that defined Mark’s earlier work.
A Sound Shaped by Tradition
Mark’s working process is deeply influenced by traditional SteelPan techniques – shaping metal by hand, carefully tuning each note, and listening closely to how the instrument breathes. This approach is what gives PanStream instruments their distinctive voice: rich resonance, long sustain, and exceptional clarity.
Mark has a particular love for deep, low notes and their powerful, grounding timbre. That fascination led to the development of the PanStream Bass Pan range – instruments designed to be felt as much as they are heard.
Crafting Each Instrument
The HandPan making process at PanStream has evolved over the years. In the beginning, Mark worked from blank sheets of metal, shaping shells using handheld hammers and metal spheres to achieve the right depth and form.
Today, he uses premade Ember Steel shells from Ayasa, alongside an air hammer for shaping notes and a metal press for creating dings and dimples. While the tools have evolved, the fundamentals have not: shaping metal by ear, tuning by feel, and refining until the instrument sounds exactly right.
Each instrument’s colour is created through heat treatment – a result of temperature and timing that can never be fully predicted. This makes every PanStream HandPan visually unique, just as no two instruments ever sound the same.
A Family-Run Workshop in Devon
PanStream is still a small, family-run business, led by Mark, his wife Gunita and lately also his daughters. Today, Mark works from a workshop near the coast in Devon, UK, focusing mainly on custom HandPan orders and tuning work. From time to time, the workshop also welcomes SteelPans and Gongs.
Most instruments are made to order, allowing each player to choose the scale and tuning that best suits their musical journey. For those new to HandPans, PanStream offers guidance through the “How to Choose Your First HandPan” blog post, complete with helpful videos.
The PanStream Discovery Line
We are offering a Discovery Line HandPans – instruments created especially for beginners and those taking their first steps into the world of HandPans. Built with the same care, knowledge, and tuning principles that define every PanStream instrument, the Discovery Line offers excellent sound quality at a more accessible price point.
These instruments are designed to be reliable, musical, and inspiring, making it easier for new players to begin their journey without compromising on tone or craftsmanship. It’s our way of welcoming more people into the PanStream family – and into the joy of playing.
Instruments Designed for Accessibility & Healing
Beyond traditional designs, Mark has also developed specialised instruments with larger notes, outer dimples, and unique scales. These are created for players who experience difficulties with fine motor skills, or who may benefit from specific note combinations and frequencies often used in healing and therapeutic music.
It’s all part of the same philosophy that started PanStream: listening closely to the metal, the music, and the people who play it.
