Arabic music appreciation
Interactive workshops on maqams, rhythms, and the history of Arabic music, for schools, festivals, and community groups, at every level.
Melbourne / Beirut
Qanun, nay,
and the art of tarab.
A multi-instrumentalist working across Middle Eastern maqam music, Mediterranean traditions, and electronics, from solo recitals to festival stages.
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01
About
I'm a multi-instrumentalist specialising in Middle Eastern maqam music, playing qanun, nay, mizmar, and buzuq alongside the digital synthesiser and sequencer. I perform at live venues internationally and in high-end studio sessions, and I founded and direct the classical ensemble Ṣaltanah while co-founding the electronic project Ṭarabeat.
My years at the Arab Music Archiving and Research Foundation (AMAR) in Beirut, an archive of traditional Arabic recordings, built a deep network of artists and a knowledge of the tradition learned through oral methods. Living across many places and cultures has shaped a sound rooted in improvisation, blending styles to suit a wide range of events and audiences.
Portrait
Instruments
QanunOudMizmarNayBuzuq
SazSanturDudukSynthPercussion
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Upcoming
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18–19JunFestival
Dark Mofo
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23JunRadio
RRR Radio
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28JunRadio
PBS Radio
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02JulConcert
Melbourne Recital Centre
For bookings and current availability, get in touch.
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Ensembles & projects
Founder & director
Ṣaltanah
A classical Arabic instrumental ensemble built around maqam, tarab, and the slow art of listening together.
Explore → Co-founderṬarabeat
An electronic project blending classical Middle Eastern scales and rhythms with synths, dedicated to the living tradition of tarab.
Explore → Core memberEstudiantina of Melbourne
Reviving traditional Greek music, with a focus on the Smyrneika and Rebetiko genres.
Explore → Core memberThe Kismet Project
Turkish, Balkan, and Middle Eastern music fused with jazz influences.
Explore → SoloQanun & Nay recitals
Solo and collaborative sets spanning classical and contemporary Arabic music, scaled to the room.
Explore → RovingMizmar & Zaffé
Loud, celebratory processional sets for weddings, openings, and festivals.
Explore →
Founder & director
Ṣaltanah, live
The classical Arabic ensemble I founded and direct, in concert.
Electronic project
Ṭarabeat
Founded in Beirut in 2016, Ṭarabeat draws on classical Middle Eastern music, its maqamat and rhythms, and supplements the oud, nay, qanun, santur, and riqq with sequencers, synthesisers, and bass to build an energetic blend of dance music inspired by tarab, Sufi, and regional folk.
The shows are one of a kind: a rotating lineup of players and vocalists gives each one a fresh touch. The highlight is the Dabke, a traditional circle dance led into the crowd with mizmar and tabl drum, for a truly immersive experience.
Live instrumentsElectronic beatsLive singers
Belly dancersVisual effectsImmersive dance
Live photo
- Kazdoura House, funk, and jazz on a spirited roadtrip through Lebanon.
- Tourath Turkish Sufi music meets the heterophony of Arabic melody.
- Raving Darwich Sufi spirit with techno and psychedelic textures.
- Jager Bamb German techno driving Arabic improvisation.
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Listen & watch
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Acclaim
- 2023Grammy nomination65th Annual Grammy Awards, featured performer on Christopher Tin's Old World soundtrack.
- 2024Green Room AwardFor composition on Zaffé at Melbourne Fringe Festival.
Selected performances
- Zaffé, Melbourne Fringe
- MOOMBA Festival
- WOMADelaide
- Sydney Festival
- Brunswick Music Festival
- TedX panel talk
- NYE Docklands
- Eurockéennes de Belfort
Selected productions
- Old World soundtrack, with Christopher TinGrammy-nominated video game OST, 2023
- TarabeatOriginal album of electronic Arabic music
- The Balkan Route, No Borders MusicVinyl release collaboration
- Eye Looking at Large Glass BrokenComposition with Raafat Ishak, Heide Museum
- Ada, Asmin and the Analytical EngineUnderscore for Lemony S Puppet Theatre
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Teaching & workshops
Arabic Jams at Capers
Host of monthly Arabic jam sessions, an open, interactive space to explore and appreciate Arabic musical traditions together.
French tutoring
One-to-one lessons with a native speaker, from conversation practice to exam preparation, in person or online.
Cultural tours
Guided experiences with Culture Quest and as a freelance guide, drawing on years leading tours in Beirut and Europe.
Let's make something.
Booking a performance, planning a workshop, or setting up French lessons? Tell me what you have in mind and I'll get back to you soon.
- feghalicamille@gmail.com
- +61 401 564 913
- Based in Melbourne, available nationally and internationally
← Back to projects
Founder & director
Ṣaltanah سلطنة
Dedicated page coming soon
Classical Arabic ensemble built around maqam, tarab, and the slow art of listening together.
← Back to projects
Co-founder
Ṭarabeat طربيت
Dedicated page coming soon
Electronic project blending classical Middle Eastern scales and rhythms with synths, in the living tradition of tarab.
← Back to projects
Core member
Estudiantina of Melbourne
Dedicated page coming soon
Reviving traditional Greek music, with a focus on the Smyrneika and Rebetiko genres.
← Back to projects
Core member
The Kismet Project
Dedicated page coming soon
Turkish, Balkan, and Middle Eastern music fused with jazz influences.
← Back to projects
Solo
Qanun & Nay recitals
Dedicated page coming soon
Solo and collaborative sets spanning classical and contemporary Arabic music, scaled to the room.
← Back to projects
Roving
Mizmar & Zaffé
Dedicated page coming soon
Loud, celebratory processional sets for weddings, openings, and festivals.