Psyche (band)

Psyche
Darrin Huss (Psyche)
Background information
Origin	Edmonton, Canada
Genres	Synthpop, dark wave
Years active	1982–present
Labels	Artoffact, Accession, Metropolis
Associated acts	Vanishing Heat, Inside
Website	Official Site
Members	Darrin C. Huss Stefan Rabura
Past members	Stephen Huss Dwayne R. Goettel David Kristian Per-Anders Kurenbach Remi Szyszka

Psyche are a Canadian dark synthpop band, now based in Germany. They are centered on singer Darrin Huss, who has been the only constant member, with various line-ups including his brother Stephen Huss, later followed by David Kristian, Per-Anders Kurenbach, and Remi Szyszka, all recording albums with Darrin under the name Psyche.

Psyche was formed by brothers Darrin and Stephen Huss in Edmonton, Alberta, named after the B-Side of Killing Joke's Wardance single as well as being chosen for the meaning of the word. The band's debut performance was on December 13, 1982 with Dwayne Goettel on additional keyboards. During this period, Psyche were known for their bizarre live shows wherein Darrin performed nude (except for being covered in shaving cream) while talk-singing and shouting over the music. The performance idea was inspired by pictures seen of Fad Gadget in British Music magazines.

While demos were recorded during this period of collaboration with Dwayne Goettel, no albums were released until 1985's Insomnia Theatre, after Goettel's departure.

After Insomnia Theatre achieved moderate success in Europe, Psyche tested the waters with a couple single releases followed up by a new studio album, Unveiling the Secret, in 1986. To promote the record, Psyche performed as the opening act for Suicide, at Élysée Montmartre in Paris, then as headliners on their own proper European tour.

After the release of their third studio album, Mystery Hotel, Stephen Huss was forced to take a hiatus from the group due to being diagnosed with schizophrenia. During this period Darrin began collaborating with David Kristian, leading to a new album, The Influence, in 1989. This album introduced new elements to Psyche's sound, with samples created by Kristian, and being performed entirely on the Casio FZ1. Songs such as "Misery", and "Haunted" began a new period with Psyche as precursors of the Dark Wave music scene.