 “I love things that are funny and I love things that are dark but I don’t want to just play on one sort of feel.”

David Bowie had Ziggy Stardust, Stefani Germanotta has Lady Gaga, but for Cody Critcheloe, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ssion_official/" target="_blank">SSION</a> is more than just a professional moniker/stage name.

Pronounced &ldquo;shun,&rdquo; it&rsquo;s a multifaceted creative project (which he spearheads)&mdash;an all-encompassing artistic force consisting of videos, art, and live performance in addition to music. Hailing from the state of Kentucky, the group first assembled as a punk rock band, which functioned as their portal into a creative universe not afforded to them by their hometown. &ldquo;I was hanging out with a group of girls and I was like we should start a band&mdash;I really wanted to be in a band,&rdquo; Critcheloe states. &ldquo;[So] we did.&rdquo;

Their sound today has evolved into a cosmopolitan art-pop/dance-funk hybrid quite different from that of its infancy, but the noisy, freeing spirit of punk is very much alive and well. Think Warhol&rsquo;s factory dressed in a ripped-up cow-print coat of raw, creative freedom. When it comes to songwriting, Critcheloe isn&rsquo;t afraid to channel his inner contrarian, blending opposites to create something that&rsquo;s both unique and harmonious. &ldquo;I always try to have something in each song that twists it,&rdquo; he says, addressing the duality behind SSION&rsquo;s sound. &ldquo;I love things that are funny and I love things that are dark but I don&rsquo;t want to just play on one sort of feel.&rdquo;

Their latest album, O, released earlier this year, marks a new era for the band, one that pokes fun at electronic music, but don&rsquo;t you dare call it a parody&mdash;it&rsquo;s a sophisticated form of audio subversion. This time around, SSION is joined by a gaggle of A-list collaborators that include Patty Schemel, Sky Ferreira, R&oacute;is&iacute;n Murphy, Ariel Pink, and more. Each track can be associated with almost anything, from first kisses to first breakups and everything in between. &ldquo;You can have that with movies,&rdquo; he adds. &ldquo;But I feel with music it&rsquo;s hands down the witchiest thing you can possibly do. It&rsquo;s a true witchcraft magic in a beautiful kind of way&mdash;I&rsquo;m always attracted to that challenge.&rdquo;

Cody wears Coat, pants, and belt DSQUARED2, Tank and jewelry his own, Boots CALVIN KLEIN 205W39NYC

062718-CDC-LOfficielUSA-CODY-SHOT-04-064-PRINT-FINAL.jpg

Hair: Yuki Kim (Bridge Artists)

Makeup: Kento Utsubo

Makeup Assistant: Mao Uga

Digital Technician: Brandon Avriam

Catering: Better Being

Design: Cathryn Carey (Stoneman)

SSION Loves Making Witchy Music

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