TAOF

TAOF, The Art of Fusion, is a music and performance project founded by Rafael Sotomayor in Frankfurt, combining handpan and ensemble playing.

Rafael Sotomayor founded The Art of Fusion in 2006 to bring different cultures and art forms together through music. The Frankfurt-based project places the Hang and handpan within an ensemble, combining them with vocals, guitar, bass, drums, saxophone and electronics across its different line-ups. Its music draws on jazz, electronic music, psychedelic rock, funk and reggae, with an emphasis on energetic live performance and melodic storytelling. The recorded catalogue includes Rhizomism and Universum, while performances such as Tidal Wave document the interplay between handpan and band. Sotomayor’s work as a self-taught musician and composer connects the collective to his wider solo practice. Members of TAOF also developed The Bow, an indie-pop project featuring his vocals. The profile represents this collaborative musical project, with its roots in Germany and connections across musical traditions.