Ionne's 'A Light Untruth': Exploring the Duality of Light and Darkness

Cover photo by Kasaad Bullock / The Collective NHV. Wardrobe by Duss Wayne.

Project Title: A Light Untruth

Artist: Ionne

Label:  5015 Records LLC

Release Date: August 29, 2025

In the ever-evolving world of music, Ionne, the moniker of Maurice Harris, is set to release his fourth full-length album, "A Light Untruth," on August 29, 2025, under 5015 Records. Known for his EDM-influenced work, Ionne takes a bold step into alternative music with this 10-song collection, showcasing his versatility as an artist.

The journey of "A Light Untruth" began in July 2022, when Ionne collaborated with abstract expressionist painter Mary Barr Rhodes and projection artist Benjamin Britton. Their project, "Sonos Lumia," premiered at the PAR Projects gallery in Cincinnati, Ohio, as an exhibition of visual art accompanied by original songs exploring the positive attributes of light. The exhibition's success led to an expanded collection a year later, "Sonos Lumia II," at the Pendleton Arts Center, featuring instrumental music.

For Ionne, the relationship between light and darkness became a central theme. "We are aware of and appreciate the light because of its contrast to the darkness," he explains. This duality is woven throughout the album, beginning with the first four songs: "Headlight," "Dusk & Dawn," "Blacklight," and "The Neverending Sun."

"Headlight," Ionne's personal favorite, tells the story of a hit and run, where the singer is transitioning, and beauty emerges from decay. The song's imagery inspired the album cover photo by Kasaad Bullock of The Collective NHV, capturing a supernatural distortion reminiscent of the ghostly motion blur in the film "I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House."

"Dusk & Dawn" explores the ambiguity of love and separation, while "Blacklight" playfully blurs the lines between light and dark in an imaginary setting. "The Neverending Sun" challenges listeners to consider how prosperity often comes at the expense of others.

The album's title, "A Light Untruth," is a nod to Ionne's work at Yale, where the motto "Lux et Veritas" (Light and Truth) inspired a reflection on the complexities of truth. "I've always been enamored by both the altruism and the arrogance of professing light and truth," Ionne muses. "Sometimes we do things thinking they are good, only to discover later that they are harmful."

These "light untruths" are the stories we tell ourselves to reconcile our experiences, a theme that resonates throughout the album. "Good and evil, light and dark, joy and pain, are all peppered with these 'light untruths,'" Ionne explains. The album invites listeners to explore these dualities, offering a poignant and sublime reflection on the human condition.