Could you please introduce yourself ?

We are Samantha Archer and Jaron Tripp - Archer & Tripp. We met at Hangout UK ‘14 and formed a very easy and natural bond both musically and personally shortly after! 

How did you end up playing handpan? What’s your story? When and how did you discover it? 

Sam: I discovered it through making contact with my biological father, Michael Colley, for the first time back in 2010 when I was 20. He responded by sending a video of himself playing and talking about the Hang and I was just so mesmerised. Already a musician my entire childhood, this was something new, exciting and inviting. 

Jaron: I first saw a hang at a campground in Corsica, summer 2005. I was playing Djembe and an old French man came and asked me to come with him to his friend to play music with them. This friend, the swiss percussionist Beat Föllmi (what a great name for a drummer), had a 1st Gen Hang and let me play it for a while. I fell in love then and there. 

What do you like the most about handpans?

‍The lack of tradition. The chance to develop your own style and techniques on a blank canvas. The rich yet gentle sounds. The community that has developed! 

What’s your best souvenir, the best thing the handpan brought in your life? (Encounter, travel story, friendship, gig, event etc)

Each other. 

If you were lost on a desert island with only one scale, which one would it be?‍

Sam: At the moment I think I would say my Ayasa C major 17 - I’ve never been a fan of major scales, but this layout and the sound is just amazing and pulls me in to play more and more and more.

Jaron: Probably my Integral Hang. Or… an Ayasa Ember Steel D Kurd 18.

How would you describe your handpan style?

‍We both have such different styles, and whilst we may share some techniques, our approach and way of playing is still so different, which we love.

Sam: Mine is much more melodic and harmony driven and I love exploring with textures and little embellishments and flourishes. I love to play in long and loose phrases but have developed the ability to also be very rhythmical and groovey at the same time - the influence of Jaron has rubbed off on me.

Jaron: I mostly play very gently. I like pulling sounds out of the instrument rather than forcing it to sing a certain way. Since I started playing at the age of 20, while I was still in the early stages of my development as a percussionist, I have definitely grown with the handpan and my way of playing it has greatly influenced my way of playing music in general. I am much more of a rhythmical player.

On which handpan are you currently playing?

It changes every day.

‍Nitrided or stainless?‍

Depends on the mood - but Ember Steel is another world! 

Could you describe to us your album 'Perspectives'?

This is a big question, and we feel it is best answered through our promotional text about our latest Album, ‘Perspectives’

‘In early 2019, the world music duo, Archer & Tripp, set out on a minimalist 3 month adventure carrying only one pentatonic handpan, a 15’’ frame drum, some simple woodwind and a few little things. Their goal was to come home with a music memoir.

From the mountains in northern Thailand to the stunning sunsets along the Mekong river in Laos, from the chaos of Cambodia to the vastness of the California Deserts. From pacific ocean to the land of hummus and tahini in Israel, the duo worked and composed on the road to create their new album ‘perspectives’.

"Finding sanctuary among the chaos, and colourful diverse life growing out of cracked and barren land was a great inspiration in the making of ‘perspectives’."

The 11 track album is a beautiful balance between intentional compositions and improvised spontaneous play, recorded by sound engineer, instrument maker and musician, Thomas Ben Tov at Nagariya Studios in Israel. Multi-instrumentalists Samantha Archer and Jaron Tripp share and change roles with such ease, offering a diverse listening experience with the evolving and blending of instrumentation.

The depth of emotion and chemistry between the musicians who are playing, living and traveling together for more than 5 years is distinctly felt in this masterful piece.

Taking you around the world through mesmerising melodies, this organic acoustic album has a rawness to it, packed full of authenticity and emotion, intricately weaved through the landscapes of complex yet entrancing rhythms and groove.

A true storytelling album.’

How do you compose? Where does come from your inspiration, creativity?

We compose in a variety of ways. Sometimes we start from a rhythm, a pattern or a hook line and develop from there. Often our pieces are born from improvisation and refined through creating structure and breaks.

Travels, human interaction, nature and self reflection are our greatest source of inspiration.