Biography
Fronted by vocalist and visual artist Cody Critcheloe, New York City's SSION surfaced in the early 2000s as an electroclash dance-punk outfit reminiscent of Scissor Sisters, Fischerspooner, and Peaches. The group issued a string of underground recordings and drew crowds through lavish early performances. Over the following decade the artful collective developed into a wide-ranging pop performance vehicle, with Critcheloe remaining its central creative force. Beyond recording, Critcheloe has helmed videos for Gossip, Peaches, and Kylie Minogue under the SSION banner.
The project's origins trace to Kansas City, Missouri, where Critcheloe first formed SSION (pronounced "shun") while still in high school; the endeavor continued while he attended the Kansas City Art Institute. His influences spanned punk figures such as Iggy Pop and Henry Rollins, the dance-oriented new wave of the B-52's, Pet Shop Boys, and Roxy Music, and gender-bending icons including Freddie Mercury, George Michael, Boy George, and David Bowie. SSION's first release arrived in 1999 with the self-issued Fucked into Oblivion, followed in 2001 by I Don't Want New Wave & I Don't Want the Truth. The project's official label debut came in 2003 via Version City Records, which put out the Minor Treat EP alongside the album Opportunity Bless My Soul.
Further independent efforts included the 2005 album Glory Hound and the 2006 EP Street Jizz before SSION joined Sleazetone Records. That imprint delivered the 2008 album Fools Gold and its companion Clown remix EP. The official second full-length, Bent, appeared on Dovecote Records in 2011. Ahead of the next album, Critcheloe directed clips for CSS, Santigold, MNDR, Dum Dum Girls, Kylie Minogue, Perfume Genius, and additional artists. SSION resurfaced in 2018 with O, featuring contributions from Ariel Pink, Róisín Murphy, Sky Ferreira, MNDR, Devendra Banhart, and others.
The project's origins trace to Kansas City, Missouri, where Critcheloe first formed SSION (pronounced "shun") while still in high school; the endeavor continued while he attended the Kansas City Art Institute. His influences spanned punk figures such as Iggy Pop and Henry Rollins, the dance-oriented new wave of the B-52's, Pet Shop Boys, and Roxy Music, and gender-bending icons including Freddie Mercury, George Michael, Boy George, and David Bowie. SSION's first release arrived in 1999 with the self-issued Fucked into Oblivion, followed in 2001 by I Don't Want New Wave & I Don't Want the Truth. The project's official label debut came in 2003 via Version City Records, which put out the Minor Treat EP alongside the album Opportunity Bless My Soul.
Further independent efforts included the 2005 album Glory Hound and the 2006 EP Street Jizz before SSION joined Sleazetone Records. That imprint delivered the 2008 album Fools Gold and its companion Clown remix EP. The official second full-length, Bent, appeared on Dovecote Records in 2011. Ahead of the next album, Critcheloe directed clips for CSS, Santigold, MNDR, Dum Dum Girls, Kylie Minogue, Perfume Genius, and additional artists. SSION resurfaced in 2018 with O, featuring contributions from Ariel Pink, Róisín Murphy, Sky Ferreira, MNDR, Devendra Banhart, and others.
Albums
Singles
Live
