The debut EP from Charbel Nehme is Take That Chance.

The Punchbowl-based musician makes widescreen 80s pop, recommended for fans of Peter Gabriel and Bronski Beat. Charbel’s songs are alternately playful and impassioned, and they are produced by close collaborator Pasko Schravemade - “I love the work he does; we make a great sound together,” Charbel said.

The Take That Chance EP functions as a de facto greatest hits of songs Charbel has recorded with Pasko since he began working at the Club Weld studio in late 2016.

TRACK BY TRACK:

Take That Chance

“This song is about not giving up. It’s about going on with your dreams and what you want to achieve,” Charbel said. The song has a brilliant film clip directed by Heath Franco, shot at I.C.E, and premiered on ABC's rage on November 26, 2021.

Everybody Come Together

“When we were in lockdown everything was going bad with protests and what everyone was going through,” Charbel said. “And I had the idea to put a lot of different singers on a feel-good song.” This anthemic track features Club Weld alumni Sienna Acquaro, Jonathan Yung, Kate Field, Jerrah Patston and Victoria Harbutt on guest vocals.

Feelings

“I was thinking of my mum who passed away, I was thinking happy and sad,” Charbel said. “I made it a happy song because with a sad song it would keep everyone sad, if it’s a happy song it would be better.” This brilliant pop song features a video directed by Heath Franco and Charbel. “I wanted to be an emoji in the Feelings video,” Charbel said. The clip screened on the ABC’s rage program in early 2017.

Dear Mum

“That one was written when my dad had an operation, and I was trying to write a letter to tell my mum what’s happening,” Charbel said. “And it’s about being strong.” The song is currently being arranged for symphonic choir by Parramatta’s River City Voices and conductor Sarah Penicka-Smith.

Take A Trip To Australia

“I was thinking of summer holidays and the places you could go – I haven’t been to all of them, but I have been to the Big Merino…” Charbel said. Charbel performed the song at the Art Gallery of NSW in late 2019.

Burn Like A Star (bonus track)

In 2017 the Club Weld studio was invited for a residency at the Sydney Opera House’s Intel Studio. Jerrah Patston brought the song ‘Burn Like A Star’ to record, and Charbel had some additional words that proved to be a perfect fit. “I wanted to have words that suited the theme of Vivid and lights, and I like how the recording makes it sound like I’m singing from space.”

Club Weld is a studio working with neurodiverse musicians. The collective has released a number of compilations, solo recordings and collaborations, and works at Information & Cultural Exchange (I.C.E.) in Western Sydney. ice.org.au