BY: Andrew Chin

For more than a century, the steel pan has been one of the great symbols of the rich cultural traditions of the Caribbean. Toronto pannist and steel pan teacher Salmon Cupid is hoping to broaden the scope of the instrument with a recent innovation: an electronic steel pan that he dubs the “e-pan.”

Working on the concept for the past 25 years, the Trinidadian-born Cupid describes the e-pan as “the first electronic synthesized steel pan. It’s the mirror image of a working steel pan. The best example is that of a piano player who plays an electronic piano without relearning anything. A steel pan player will be able to do that with the e-pan.”

Although the e-pan is built and plays in the same way as a traditional steel pan, it does have some interesting features. The instrument comes equipped with nine different pre-selects (piano, trumpet, violin, guitar, saxophone, drum beats and special effects) that allow the player to replicate the sounds of those instruments. However, Cupid insists that the e-pan isn’t meant to compete with the steel pan.

“The e-pan wasn’t invented to replace the traditional steel pan. The traditional sound will always be there and will always be in demand,” he says. “The e-pan is only there to enhance it. It’s there to give professional players an opportunity to play different instruments while playing in the same style. The hope is that it will give steel pan players, and the instrument itself, more recognition.”

Each year, Caribana spotlights the steel pan, particularly with the Pan Alive competition. However, Cupid believes that with the e-pan, the instrument can play an even bigger role. “The steel pan, of course, is a traditional thing. But for years, all the big West Indies bands haven’t had a steel pan player on the floats,” he says. “With the e-pan, they can now hire the steel pan player because they will be able to amplify the steel pan through an audio output. Also the steel pan player can play different instruments like the violin and trumpet [with the e-pan].”

A trip through his native Trinidad in 2008 confirmed that there would be a demand for his innovation. “The response has been overwhelmingly positive worldwide. Everyone wants to get one,” he says. Cupid was particularly enthused by the reaction of steel pan legend Len “Boogsie” Sharpe, who he describes as “the number one steel player in the world.” Cupid was able to convince Sharpe to give the e-pan a whirl. The results are on YouTube and, as Cupid explains, Sharpe “was able to play it and he was fascinated. In fact, I promised him one.”

After spending so many years building the instrument, Cupid isn’t resting on his laurels. “I’m really happy that I’ve had a fantastic response from steel pan players, and I can’t wait to continue enhancing and perfecting it,” he says. “In the future, there will be different versions. I’m working on a smaller, lighter one for basses.”

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