For nearly two decades, IONO Music has established itself as one of the leading names in the global progressive psytrance scene. Founded in Berlin, Germany, in 2005 by Matthias Sperlich (Cubixx) and Murus, the independent label has built its reputation by championing innovative electronic music while remaining committed to artistic authenticity.
Inspired by the concept of the Earth’s ionosphere; a layer that enables communication across vast distances while protecting the planet, the label was created with the vision of connecting artists and listeners around the world through music. Since its inception, IONO Music has grown into a respected home for progressive psytrance and psychedelic electronic music, supporting artists with distinctive creative voices and fostering long-term relationships built on trust and shared values.
Now led by Cubixx, IONO Music celebrates its 20th anniversary while continuing to evolve alongside the electronic music landscape. Although the industry has transformed dramatically over the years, the label’s philosophy has remained remarkably consistent: release music with lasting emotional impact rather than simply following trends.
We caught up with the team behind IONO Music to discuss the label’s journey, its artist-first philosophy, and what the future holds as it enters its third decade.
Please introduce your label and share the story behind how it started.
IONO Music was founded in Germany at the end of 2005 with a simple but ambitious vision: to create a home for innovative electronic music that pushes boundaries while maintaining a strong emotional connection with listeners.
From the beginning, our focus has been on supporting artists with a unique voice and helping their music reach a global audience. Over the last two decades, IONO has grown from a small independent label into one of the most recognised names in the international psytrance scene, working with artists and listeners from every corner of the world.
Throughout this journey, our mission has remained the same: discovering exceptional talent, nurturing long-term artist relationships, and releasing music that stands the test of time.
What inspired the name and identity of the label?
The name IONO comes from the Earth’s ionosphere, a layer of the atmosphere that protects our planet from cosmic radiation while also enabling long-distance radio communication across the globe.
We felt this concept perfectly reflected what we wanted the label to represent. Music is a universal frequency that connects people regardless of culture, language, or geography. Just as the ionosphere serves as a bridge for communication and protection, IONO Music aims to connect artists and listeners worldwide through sound while providing a supportive platform where creativity can thrive.
The idea of transmitting energy, signals, and emotions across the planet remains at the heart of our identity today.
How would you describe the label’s sound? Which genres and subgenres does IONO Music primarily represent?
IONO Music is primarily known for progressive psytrance, but over the years our sound has evolved alongside the electronic music landscape.
Today, our catalogue spans progressive psytrance, psychedelic trance, full-on, psytech, techno-influenced sounds, and melodic electronic music. What unites all our releases is not a strict genre definition, but a commitment to quality, musicality, innovation, and emotional impact.
We are always looking for music that creates a journey and leaves a lasting impression on the listener.
What do you look for when signing or working with artists?
Originality is the most important factor. Technical production skills are essential today, but what truly stands out is an artist with a distinctive identity and a genuine story to tell through their music.
We look for artists who are passionate, professional, and committed to long-term development rather than short-term trends. Some of our strongest partnerships have lasted for many years because they are built on mutual trust, creative freedom, and shared values.
Can you mention some of the artists currently on your roster?
We are fortunate to work with an incredibly diverse group of talented artists from around the world.
Some of the leading names currently representing IONO Music include Cubixx, Mindbenderz, One Function, SOME1, Invisible Reality, Cosmic Flow, Altered State, Waveform, Osher, and Cosmic Tone.
Alongside these established acts, we continue to support a new generation of artists such as Shyisma, Releasse, Transpose, Estefano Haze, Bellatrix, Deep Vibration, Innerpoint, Alurian, Hyriderz, and many others who are helping shape the future sound of the label.
What makes our roster special is its diversity. While every artist has their own unique identity, they all share a commitment to innovation, quality, and creating meaningful musical experiences.
How has the music industry, particularly with the rise of AI, changed since the label first launched?
The music industry has transformed dramatically since 2006. Digital distribution, streaming platforms, social media, and direct artist-to-fan communication have completely changed how music is discovered and consumed.
AI is simply the latest chapter in this evolution. It offers powerful tools for creativity, production, marketing, and workflow optimization. However, we believe that the human element remains irreplaceable.
Authentic artistic expression, emotional depth, and personal experience are what truly connect music with listeners. Rather than viewing AI as a threat, we see it as a tool. The challenge for labels and artists is learning how to use new technologies while preserving authenticity and artistic identity.
What challenges have you faced as an independent label, and how have you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges has always been adapting to constant industry changes while remaining true to our core values.
We’ve witnessed the transition from physical sales to digital downloads, then to streaming, and now into an era shaped by social media algorithms and AI-driven tools. Every shift requires flexibility and innovation.
As an independent label, success comes from building genuine relationships with artists, maintaining high standards, and continuously evolving. Our longevity is the result of staying passionate, embracing change, and never losing sight of why we started.
Are there any upcoming releases, collaborations, or projects that fans should look out for?
This year is particularly special for us as IONO Music celebrates its 20th anniversary.
To mark this milestone, we are preparing a major 20 Years of IONO Music compilation featuring exclusive tracks, special collaborations, and contributions from artists who have been part of the label’s journey throughout the years.
The compilation is scheduled for release in the fall and will serve as both a celebration of our history and a glimpse into the future of the label.
What’s the long-term vision and goal for the label moving forward?
Our goal is to continue being a trusted platform for exceptional electronic music while supporting the next generation of artists.
We want to keep expanding creatively, exploring new sounds, and building bridges between different electronic music communities without losing our roots.
Innovation has always been part of IONO’s DNA, but so has authenticity. Twenty years after our founding, we remain driven by the same passion that started this journey: connecting people through music and creating releases that inspire listeners around the world.
Follow IONO Music:
Instagram – Facebook – X – YouTube – Spotify – Website
