Fronted by vocalist/artist
Cody Critcheloe, New York City's
SSION debuted in the early 2000s as an electroclash dance-punk act similar to
Scissor Sisters,
Fischerspooner, and
Peaches, recording a series of underground releases while attracting an audience with their extravagant early live shows. The artful outfit evolved into the 2010s as a multifaceted pop performance project with
Critcheloe as the creative driving force. In addition to music,
Critcheloe (as
SSION) has also directed music videos for the likes of
Gossip,
Peaches, and
Kylie Minogue.
The early seeds of
SSION (pronounced "shun") were planted in Kansas City, Missouri while
Critcheloe was still in high school, continuing as he studied at the Kansas City Art Institute. He drew from a range of influences, including punk rock from
Iggy Pop and
Henry Rollins; the dance-party new wave of
the B-52's,
Pet Shop Boys, and
Roxy Music; and iconic gender-bending frontmen like
Freddie Mercury,
George Michael,
Boy George, and
David Bowie. He made his recording debut as
SSION in 1999 with Fucked into Oblivion, a self-released effort that was followed by 2001's I Don't Want New Wave & I Don't Want the Truth. In 2003, the project made its official label debut, releasing the Minor Treat EP and the Opportunity Bless My Soul album on Version City Records.
After issuing another self-released album, Glory Hound (2005), and EP, Street Jizz (2006),
SSION signed to Sleazetone Records. In 2008, the label released the
Fools Gold album and the accompanying Clown remix EP. His official sophomore LP,
Bent (Dovecote Records), arrived in 2011. Before the release of a follow-up,
Critcheloe directed music videos by
CSS,
Santigold,
MNDR,
Dum Dum Girls,
Kylie Minogue,
Perfume Genius, and others. He returned in 2018 with O, which featured appearances by
Ariel Pink,
Róisín Murphy,
Sky Ferreira,
MNDR,
Devendra Banhart, and more. ~ Neil Z. Yeung & Jason Birchmeier