Starting The Business

The Inspiration

Our journey was only just beginning. Three months in, I found myself drawn to the game 'Genshin Impact,' where I encountered the lyre harp for the first time. It fascinated me that this instrument from the virtual realm had real-world counterparts. We were on a mission again, testing every lyre harp we could find, and eventually handpicked the best ones under $500 for our shop.

Then we discovered the rhythmic world of tongue drums and handpans. After months of exploration and testing, we expanded our product line further. Each new find not only enriched our collection but also reinforced our mission - to share the healing power of music. It was like composing a symphony, with each new instrument adding its unique notes to the melody we were creating together.

Shortly after expanding our range, we reached another exciting milestone. We moved the business out of our one-bedroom apartment and into our very first warehouse in Macquarie Park, NSW 2113.

It was actually just a small space within a self-storage facility — looking back now, it feels incredibly tiny. But at the time, it meant everything to us. It felt like a real step forward, something we had been working towards for so long.

That little space held a lot of excitement, late nights, and quiet belief. It was a moment that showed us how far we had come, and strengthened our belief in what we were building.

Our second warehouse

Our Growth & Our Gratitude

Thanks to your support and encouragement, we’ve grown in ways we never imagined. Over the past few years, our range has expanded to over 200 instruments, and we’ve fulfilled more than 12,000 orders.

As we continued to grow, we eventually outgrew our first small warehouse and moved into a much larger space to support what Melodic Forest® has become today.

This journey — shaped by music, healing, and connection — has transformed what began as Little Kalimba Shop into Melodic Forest®, something far beyond just a store.

None of this would have been possible without you. Your kindness, encouragement, and belief in what we’re building have shaped every step along the way. From those who were with us in the very beginning, when we had just five products, to those who have only recently found us — each of you has been part of this story.

The messages you’ve shared, the moments of calm and joy you’ve found through music, and the connection you feel with these instruments continue to inspire us every day.

You’ve never just been customers to us. You’ve been our community — and for that, we are deeply grateful.

We’ve come this far because of you, and we’re excited for what lies ahead, knowing we’re continuing this journey together.

Mapping Our Melody

Reflecting on 2023

In 2023, what began as Little Kalimba Shop continued to grow into something far more meaningful — and over time, that growth would eventually lead us to become Melodic Forest®.

It had become a small sanctuary where music could offer calm, connection, and a sense of healing. No matter your musical background, you were always welcome to explore our instruments and experience that for yourself.

Behind the scenes, we were constantly learning and expanding — testing new instruments like handpans and flutes, and creating e-books, songbooks, and free learning materials to support your musical journey.

As the business grew, our little space in the self-storage facility was no longer enough. Even though we had rented the largest unit available there, we had simply outgrown it. So with your amazing support, we moved into our first real warehouse — with high ceilings, more room to breathe, and a beautiful showroom space.

That new showroom meant so much to me, because for the first time I was able to meet some of our customers in person. And honestly, they were some of the loveliest and most interesting people I’ve ever met. I still remember many of them, even years later.

We kept listening, learning, and carefully expanding our collection with unique handmade instruments from around the world. And as the vision grew beyond kalimbas alone, Little Kalimba Shop naturally evolved into Melodic Forest® — a broader home for instruments chosen for the same reason they mattered to us from the beginning: their ability to bring beauty, calm, and inspiration into everyday life.

Thank you for being part of our journey in 2023, and for helping shape what Melodic Forest® is today. We’re so grateful to continue being a small part of yours.

Growing Together, Sharing the Joy of Music

Our Vision for 2024

We're excited to share that 2024 has been a remarkable year for Little Kalimba Shop. We've introduced esteemed brands like Hugh Tracey kalimbas from South Africa and expanded our collection to include cajons, djembes, handpans, and a variety of singing bowls. More thrilling additions like lyre harps, Native American flutes, ocarinas, and premium tongue drums handmade in Portland are on their way.

Our showroom is now open for visits by appointment, allowing you to experience our instruments firsthand. We’ve optimised our logistics to reduce shipping costs and have significantly lowered prices on our top-selling products.

Celebrating our fourth year, we’re proud to have served nearly 20,000 Australian music lovers, achieving a stellar 4.9-star rating. We’re deeply grateful for your support and excited to continue providing the best products and services, along with free learning materials and tips on our website.

Thank you for being part of our journey. Your passion for music inspires us every day, and we can't wait to share more beautiful instruments with you.

A New Chapter

From Kalimbas to a Forest of Sound

This year has been the most challenging, emotional, and transformative chapter in our journey so far. In 2025, we moved into our fourth warehouse, now complete with a bigger, more beautiful showroom. Our product range has more than doubled, and our small-but-mighty team has grown to six wonderful people — hard to believe it all started in a little living room with five kalimbas and a dream.

And just when we thought things couldn’t get more intense… we had a baby.

Raising a tiny human while expanding the business nearly broke us (and our sleep schedules). My husband and I have been doing it all on our own — no grandparents, no nannies, just coffee and sheer determination. Playing music for my baby quickly became the highlight of my day… and, let’s be honest, the only thing keeping me from completely losing it. Singing lullabies while covered in spit-up? Pure magic.

This year, I also fell head over heels for the handpan. I played it daily during pregnancy until my belly got too big to reach the notes. After three years of testing instruments from around the world, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of our very own brand of handpans, arriving July–August 2025. These range from beginner-friendly to premium double-sided models — all carefully tuned, beautifully crafted, and made for our Aussie community.

We’re also adding more sound healing and custom-made instruments, thanks to makers who’ve reached out to share their amazing creations. Every piece is still personally tested before we offer it — to ensure quality, character, and the kind of sound that makes your soul go “ahhh.”

And here’s the biggest shift: we’re entering a rebranding phase. While Little Kalimba Shop will always be our origin story, it no longer captures the full picture. What started as a side project has grown into something so much more. That's why we’re transitioning to our company name, Melodic Forest Pty Ltd — a name that reflects what we’ve become: a magical forest of sound, full of beauty, healing, and wonder, waiting to be explored.

Thank you for growing with us 💛

Your support, kindness, and love for music have carried us through every high and low. We’re so grateful to have you walking this journey with us — and we can’t wait to see where the music leads next.