Arli Liberman

Arli Liberman (; born 1986) is an Israeli-born New Zealand composer, guitarist and music producer. He plays in many genres and is especially known for his vibrant, immersive live performances and musical experiences for feature and television scores. His production process is uninhibited and collaborative, often working with directors during script development through to the early stages of post-production prior to final score itself.

Career Arli began guitar at 13 years old and at 16 began working as a session guitarist with a variety of recording artists in Israel at which time he was discovered and then mentored by gold and platinum selling English record producer and bassist Mark Smulian.

From the 2005 to 2009 Arli was a key member of the Whiteflag Project – one of the Middle East's first world fusion cross-over bands made up of Palestinian and Israeli musicians. At this time he began his journey into ambient, textural manipulation of his music through his unique analogue sound rig. Arli also co-produced, edited and played on Whiteflag Project's album Talk released by Phonag Records in 2005.

In 2009 Arli moved permanently to New Zealand, working initially as a guitarist and producer, releasing three solo albums, Arli Liberman and Fata Morgana and Allegra published by Marigold Music. During this period, his original work developed into the experimental and ambient genres, leading to performances worldwide at MoMA, WOW, the worldwide mass mediations of Wonderlust along with the meditation app 1 Giant Mind,

In 2018 Arli joined Dusty Road agency in Auckland and is represented by Bruce Everett for film and television score commissions. His first full-length feature film for director Sam Kelly and producer Vicky Pope, "Savage" was released by Madman Entertainment in September 2020.

Personal life Liberman, the youngest of six children, was born in Beersheba, Israel, to Zvi and Michal Liberman. Due to his severe dyslexia, at 13 he was sent to Shafririm School in Givat Haim, where they discovered his gift for music. His partner is French photographer and director, Jen Raoult and they live in Titirangi, New Zealand with Coco her daughter.

Musical collaborations Whiteflag Project performed at various festivals worldwide such as the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and the Creation of Peace Festival in Russia. In 2005, Whiteflag Project went on to create an award-winning documentary Playing with the Enemy broadcast live on National Swiss Television. In 2008 the band made an appearance for Amnesty International and in 2008 they performed at the Global Peace Festival.

In 2007, Liberman was on the production team and played guitar for the world music project called Ras Hasatan – A Sinai Journey where 50 musicians from all over the world came together in the Sinai Desert, Egypt and created a unique world music album – featuring Israeli artist Mosh Ben-Ari – one of the songs went to the compilation album Putumayo.

At the age of 17, he performed with one of Israel's most prolific artists Shalom Hanoch who is considered to be the father of Israeli rock.

Arli Liberman performing with Shalom Hanoch in Givat Haim, Israel in 2004.

Since 2008, he has been a member of the band Zaviot – one of Israel's premier jazz groups. Zaviot was the most successful, original jazz group in Israel during the 1980s with performances worldwide – featuring clarinet player Harold Rubin. Zaviot performed in the first Red Sea Jazz Festival and won an award for the most original Israeli jazz group.

Artistic style Liberman's signature sound is a blend of Western and Middle Eastern influences from a blues and rock and roll perspective. He specializes in unique tones and phrasing, eastern scales, alternate chord voicings, song arrangement and phrase looping. In contrast with many players his effects enhance the music rather than his playing. He is constantly experimenting with new sounds through spontaneity and originality while being innovative and progressive through improvisation and expression.

Discography Soundtracks 2024 - Ka Whawhai Tonu (Original Feature Film) Directed by Mike Jonathan (Co-composed with Tiki Taane) 2024 - The Mountain (Original Feature Film) Directed by Rachel House (Original Score with music by Troy Kingi) 2023 - Stylebender (Documentary Film) Directed by Zoe McIntosh 2022 - Dame Valerie Adams: MORE THAN GOLD (Documentary Film) Directed by Briar March 2022 - Moko (TV Series) 2021 - Datsun (Original Short Film) Directed by Mark Albiston 2021 - Washday (Original Short Film) Directed by Kath Akuhata-Brown 2020 - Purea (Original Short Film) Directed by Kath Akuhata-Brown 2019 - Savage (Original Feature Film) Directed by Sam Kelly 2019 - Ways to See (Original Short Film) Directed by Jessica Sanderson

Solo 2013 – Arli Liberman – Self-titled 2015 - Fata Morgana 2016 - Allegra

Collaborations 2005 – Whiteflag – Exile – Guitarist 2005 – Shai Naus – The Time has Come – Guitarist, editor & recording engineer 2006 – Eyal Kofman – One second before – Guitarist 2006 – Chuloo – Oldspice – Guitarist 2006 – Har Ephraim – Guitarist & co-producer 2006 – Amir Estline – Reflections – Guitarist, recording engineer, editor & co-producer 2006 – SoulJa – Recording engineer 2007 – Anger Boys – Guitarist 2007 – Nagoa – Editor & assistant sound engineer 2007 – Theatre Broadway Manhattan, NY – Editor, recording engineer & sound engineer 2007 – Rockfour – Memories of the never happened – Editor & assistant sound engineer 2007 – Ras Hasatan (A Sinai Journey) – Guitarist, co-producer, sound engineer & editor 2008 – Kol Ha Ella (Voice of the Goddess) – Guitarist & editor 2008 – Rami Kleinstein Tribute song for Gilad Shalit – Sound engineer 2009 – Adi Dagan – Guitarist & assistant sound engineer 2009 – Whiteflag Project – Talk – Guitarist, co-producer & editor 2012 – Ngatapa Black – I Muri Ahiahi – Producer, arranger & guitarist – Nominated Best Maori Album of the Year at the New Zealand Music Awards 2013)

TV/film appearances 2005 — Playing With The Enemy – with Whiteflag Project 2012 — Neighbourhood – Satellite Media