There, he and his partner Melanie Moser were members of Men and Burakumin. The latter band released an album, Early Mourning, on the Scientific label in 2000. Ahearn and Moser relocated to Los Angeles, where they formed the duo Ill Lit, which combined country-folk and electronic elements. Ahearn wrote 11 of the 12 songs on the group's debut album, WACMusic, released by Badman in September 2002. It was followed by I Need You, released in February 2004, and Tom Cruise, which Ill Lit self-released in 2006. In 2007, Ahearn began recording as a solo artist, resulting in his debut EP, Pray for Me by Name, released by Riparian Records on June 17, 2008. ~ William Ruhlmann