Daniel Hansen is carving out a very different path. The self-taught flute inventor and sound meditation facilitator is breathing life into ancient musical traditions, one handmade instrument at a time.
Raised in rural Wisconsin, Hansen’s early exposure to his mother’s record collection and hands-on lessons in repair from his father laid the groundwork for a life of creativity and craftsmanship. A saxophonist by age 10, Hansen’s musical journey took him from local school bands to stages around the world. But it wasn’t until a chance encounter with a flute maker in Kauai at age 22 that his life truly changed course.
Since 2005, Hansen has travelled across the Americas and Asia in search of sacred sounds and materials, such as bamboo, crystals, elk antlers, and even fossils, to craft his one-of-a-kind, multi-tone flutes. Inspired by indigenous traditions and his encounters with master artisans, Hansen honours ancient methods while innovating with rare and natural materials.
Since 2005, Hansen has travelled across the Americas and Asia in search of sacred sounds and materials, such as bamboo, crystals, elk antlers, and even fossils, to craft his one-of-a-kind, multi-tone flutes. Inspired by indigenous traditions and his encounters with master… pic.twitter.com/g3AkpEePuc
— T. Sassersson, Editor@NewsVoice (@newsvoicemag) July 21, 2025
Each of his instruments is more than just a flute, it’s a vessel of sonic vibration, a tool for healing and connection. Hansen’s performances and sound meditation events, now numbering over 200 across the U.S., India, Bali, and Guatemala, offer immersive experiences blending sacred frequencies, hypnotic rhythms, and world fusion sounds.
Whether guiding meditative journeys or high-energy dance ceremonies, his music bridges the ancient and modern. Hansen’s work at Rootflute.com reminds us to slow down and listen to our breath, our bodies, and the vibrations that connect us all.
“I want to entrance and inspire to create new vehicles for sound and an expansive view into the self.”