CHARM
The Perth Band That Traded the Rehearsal Room for the Home Studio
Perth-based four-piece Charm—comprising Loehm Steel (Vocalist/Rhythm Guitarist), John Porretta (Lead Guitarist), Ben Bignell (Drummer), and Harry Friesner (Bassist)—are defining their sound in a way that respects rock history while embracing digital experimentation. Having moved their entire operation into a custom home studio, the band is evolving their indie/funk/pop feel with intricate new layers and a conscious commitment to avoiding the pitfalls of the modern music hustle.
The foundation of Charm began with a mix of family exposure and youthful compulsion. For Loehm, the spark was simple: he started playing guitar at age six because his parents couldn’t make him sit still. Ben's older siblings played instruments, leading him to have a ready-made band at home. Harry’s musical interest began with him picking up his Grandad's guitars and keyboards during childhood visits. But for John, the moment was cinematic: he watched the film School of Rock and instantly "fell in love with the idea of playing guitar."
The band's formation was a patchwork of friendships and chance encounters. Harry found Ben through a Facebook ad. Separately, Harry and Loehm used to work together for a food wholesaler and would "often chat over" their similar musical tastes. Loehm eventually brought John on board, as the two have been mates since high school. Collectively, Charm came to life by bringing together members who were already in other bands.
Their early influences were vast, broken down into musical eras: Harry draws from the 60s (The Beatles); John from the 70s (Dire Straits); Ben from 80s rock (Kiss); and Loehm from 90s rock (Chili Peppers).
Charm’s sound is currently undergoing a dynamic evolution driven by their new recording setup. Previously, their sound was "very basic: two guitars, one bass and drums." Now, everything has changed with the integration of their home studio in Loehm's garage.
The band spent a significant part of the past winter in "hibernation" kitting out the space. This strategic move enables them to put "more love, focus and attention into our songs" without the time constraints of a rehearsal room. The result is a richer sonic palette, now including a sampler, guitar synths, and vocal FX chains, allowing them a broader variety of new sounds to experiment with in their tracks and live performances.
This creative freedom informs their process. They avoid forcing a song, instead relying on jamming and recording everything to put into "the vault." They then revisit and refine these recordings, knowing that "the good songs will usually stand out and stick in our heads." Once an idea sticks, they multi-track everything in the home studio until the song is complete.
The band has already had memorable experiences on stage. A funny experience occurred during a gig in Fremantle. While they were in the middle of a psychedelic jam, they were using John’s smoke machine. The sheer volume of fog set off the smoke alarm. Hilariously, no one in the crowd batted an eye—only the sound engineer noticed the chaos.
They strive to embody the intensity of their musical heroes while performing, noting their live energy is directly inspired by James Brown. Their dream gig scenario is to jump on tour with Tame Impala, adding that if they could pick the specific scenario, it would be "the AFL Grand Final when Freo makes it!"
They are uncompromising in their musical collaboration, agreeing that if they could work with anyone, it would be The Beatles, whom they consider "the best songwriters of all time." If they had to pick someone contemporary, it would be The 1975, whose approach to making music they "really love."
Charm is keenly aware of the double-edged sword that is the internet and social media. They acknowledge that the internet makes music "more accessible than ever," but they lament the constant pressure. They admit it would be "great if we could turn off the world's internet for a week or month, and only have to focus on creating the best music we can make without thinking about our next Instagram reel."
Their biggest wish for industry change is financial: "Pay artists fairly for streams, and not reinvest the money into AI weaponry."
Despite the industry's complexity, they live by the simple advice to "Don’t overthink things and trust your gut."
The band’s favourite song to perform live is their original "Alive," which they play toward the end of their set because it’s their most energetic, always getting people moving and helping them finish the show on a high.
What's Next?
Charm's fans have something tangible to look forward to: their next single, "Do It Again," is set for release in early November. The band is actively playing as many gigs as possible, urging fans to "catch us on our socials." Their final, heartfelt message to their audience is pure gratitude: "We are grateful we get to exist at the same time as you <3"