Ian Arber

Ian Arber’s rapid rise in the British film and television industry is underpinned by his bold and multi-faceted approach to composing – writing memorable themes that fuse traditional, electronic and experimental instrumentation.

Ian scored the BBC’s most viewed new drama of 2019, The Capture, with Blur’s Dave Rowntree, which was viewed by over 22 million people in the UK. The score featured manipulated organic textures with experimental analogue synths, and memorable motifs to depict the world of duplicity and intrigue. Starring Holliday Grainger, Paapa Eissiedu and Ron Pearlman, season 2 aired on BBC One in the UK and Peacock in the US in 2022.

Other recent works include scoring Netflix’s DNA-matching viral hit The One, season 3 of Disney+ and Epix original War of The Worlds, Showtime psychological thriller The Stranger in Our Bed and Acorn TV’s detective drama The Chelsea Detective, which was recorded with the London Metropolitan Orchestra at British Grove Studios in London.

He has recently collaborated with Imogen Heap on the vocal elements for Netflix’s The One, Dave Rowntree on the BAFTA-winning documentary Bros: After The Screaming Stops, and rap legend Nas on the title theme for I Am Bolt.

A classically-trained cellist and pianist, and collector of exotic instruments, Ian often incorporates these in his scores in unconventional ways, blurring the lines between traditional and modern experimental techniques. He is inspired by collaboration, working closely with filmmakers to create a truly original concept and musical language for each project. He relishes the opportunity to create a powerful and productive working relationship with filmmakers, maximising the collaboration to produce distinct work.

Ian broke out into the British film and television industry with his distinctive scores for BBC comedy drama Quacks, starring Rory Kinnear and Rupert Everett, feature-film My Name is Lenny starring John Hurt, followed by award-winning documentaries I Am Bolt, Hitsville: The Making of Motown, the Oscar-qualifying Sisters of the Wilderness and the Grierson Award-winning Show Me The Picture: The Story of Jim Marshall.