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Capital Cities
Capital Cities in 2013 Left to right: Sebu Simonian, Ryan Merchant
Background information
Origin	Los Angeles, California, US
Genres	Indie pop dance-pop synth-pop indietronica
Years active	2008–present
Labels	Lazy Hooks Capitol
Members	Ryan Merchant Sebu Simonian
Website	capitalcitiesmusic.com

Capital Cities is an American pop duo from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2008 by Ryan Merchant (vocals, keyboard, guitar) and Sebu Simonian (vocals, keyboard). Their debut EP was released on June 7, 2011, with lead single "Safe and Sound" which became their only top ten hit single.

A subsequent single, "Kangaroo Court", was released on March 27, 2012. The band was featured on the Pop Up #1 compilation selected by Perez Hilton that was released on August 7, 2012. The band's song "Safe and Sound" charted at #1 on the US Alternative Songs chart. The song was also used in a German Vodafone commercial, in a television commercial in the United States and Canada for the 2014 Mazda 3, and in an Air New Zealand in-flight safety video. The song "Center Stage" was featured on ESPN's First Take where they played a short segment of the retro-sounding track before going to commercial breaks.

The band's debut album, In a Tidal Wave of Mystery, was released June 4, 2013 via Capitol Records in partnership with Lazy Hooks. It was the first release of new material on Capitol with a Universal Music Group catalog number. The album debuted at number sixty-six on the Billboard 200 chart.

History

The two musicians met after Merchant responded to Simonian's open ad on Craigslist offering his production services. They began jingle-writing together. After three years successfully composing music for commercials and advertising campaigns, the duo formed Capital Cities. The band released its debut, self-titled EP in June 2011 via their label, Lazy Hooks.

In 2012, the band signed with Capitol Records. In partnership with Lazy Hooks, the label released In a Tidal Wave of Mystery, the band's debut album, on June 4, 2013. The album takes its name from the lyrics of its top 10 Modern Rock radio hit "Safe and Sound", the album's first single. The song has been used in promotional campaigns for HBO, Smart Car, Microsoft, Mazda and many other spots. The album includes the songs "Kangaroo Court" and "I Sold My Bed, But Not My Stereo". Outkast's André 3000, vocalist Shemika Secrest and NPR's Frank Tavares are featured on the song "Farrah Fawcett Hair". The album is produced and mixed entirely by the pair of Merchant and Simonian. The artwork is by Brazilian artist João Lauro Fonte.

The band embarked on its first-ever North American outing, the "Dancing with Strangers" tour, with special guests Gold Fields, which kicked off on April 23, 2013, at the Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix, Arizona. Capital Cities' May 9 show at New York City's Irving Plaza sold out two months in advance as well two nights at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles. All proceeds from the June 7 show at the El Rey went to MusiCares and a Place Called Home. The band has also appeared and performed at Sundance, SXSW, SweetLife, and ULTRA.

The band premiered the official video of "Safe and Sound" on April 25, 2013 on Vevo. The clip was directed by Grady Hall (who also has worked with Beck and Modest Mouse). In the video, the song fuels a mash-up of the past 100 years of dance, presided over by the band at the newly restored Los Angeles Theater in downtown Los Angeles. The video featured work from Emmy-nominated choreographer Mandy Moore. The video was nominated for two 2013 MTV Video Music Awards: Best Art Direction and Best Visual Effects. The video won a 2013 MTV Video Music Award for Best Visual Effects.

In May 2013, "Safe and Sound" reached number one on the German Singles Chart.

September 5, 2013 marked the premiere of the "Kangaroo Court" music video. The video features appearances from Darren Criss, Shannon Woodward, and Channing Holmes. The story tells of a zebra (Merchant) who has been forbidden from a club, The Kangaroo Court. Attempting entry disguised as a horse, he falls for a lapdog (Woodward). Her date that night, a bulldog (Criss), becomes jealous and reveals the zebra for who he actually is. The zebra is placed under arrest for his crime and sent to court to face a kangaroo judge (Holmes). He is found guilty immediately and is executed by a lion (Simonian).

The band was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Music Video.

Capital Cities joined Katy Perry on the North American leg of her Prismatic World Tour.

In April and May 2016, nearly three years after the release of the band's debut album, the official Capital Cities Facebook page made two posts strongly suggesting that new music was in the works. Two years later, the band released four singles within the span of four weeks and followed up with the release of Solarize on August 10, 2018 as their latest album to date.

In October 2023, they released the single "Skeleton Man".

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

Singles

Notes

1. "Kangaroo Court" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 14 on the Hot Singles Sales chart.
2. "One Minute More" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 57 on the US Airplay Top 100 chart.
3. "Vowels" did not chart on the Hot Rock Songs chart but did peak at number 48 on the Rock Airplay chart.

Awards and nominations

References

1. "Indie pop band Capital Cities at Ayala Malls". The Philippine STAR. December 16, 2013. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
2. ^ Lopez, Korina (22 June 2013). "On the Verge: Meet dance-pop duo Capital Cities". USA Today. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
3. Usinger, Mike (May 23, 2013). "Capital Cities sets jingles aside for synth-pop hooks". The Georgia Straight. Vancouver Free Press. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
4. Thomas, Fred. "Capital Cities Bio". AllMusic. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
5. Imbong, Petier (11 January 2014). "Capital Cities: Unabashedly Cheery". Rappler. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
6. "Capital Cities Drop Kangaroo Court". Billboard.com. 2012-03-29. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
7. "Pop Up! Hours Away!". PerezHilton.com. 2012-08-06. Archived from the original on 2013-10-05. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
8. "Capital Cities". Billboard.com. 2013-02-23. Retrieved 2013-02-23.
9. "Vodafone commercial in german television". tvsongs.de. 2013-04-07. Archived from the original on 2013-05-10. Retrieved 2013-04-08.
10. About New Zealand (2014-02-13), Safety in Paradise - Air New Zealand Safety Video, retrieved 2018-11-22
11. "In A Tidal Wave Of Mystery, Capital Cities' Debut Album, Is Out". Indiemusic.co. 2013-06-24. Archived from the original on 2013-10-21. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
12. "Capital Cities investe em "Safe and Sound" e lança terceiro videoclipe do single". TecoApple (in Portuguese). MTV Brasil. 25 April 2013. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
13. "SWEETLIFE - a sweetgreen festival". Archived from the original on 2014-05-18.
14. "Eh-hem! About to track vocals". Facebook. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
15. "It's on". Facebook. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
16. "Capital Cities on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
17. Capital Cities - Skeleton Man (Lyric Video), retrieved 2024-03-08
18. "Capital Cities – Chart history: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
19. "Capital Cities – Chart history: Top Rock Albums". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
20. ^ "Discographie Capital Cities" (in German). austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on August 31, 2013. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
21. "Discografie Capital Cities". ultratop.be (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
22. "Discografie Capital Cities". ultratop.be (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
23. "Discographie Capital Cities". lescharts.com (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
24. ^ "Discographie Capital Cities" (in German). charts.de. Media Control. Archived from the original on January 12, 2015. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
25. ^ "Capital Cities Discography" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
26. Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart: CLUK Update 12.10.2013 (wk40)". Zobbel.de. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
27. ^ "Gold & Platinum: Capital Cities". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
28. "Capital Cities - Safe And Sound (Remixes)". Discogs (in Italian). Retrieved 2018-07-21.
29. "Capital Cities - Capital Cities EP". Discogs. 18 December 2012. Retrieved 2018-07-21.
30. "Capital Cities - Kangaroo Court EP". Discogs (in Italian). Retrieved 2018-07-21.
31. "Capital Cities - Swimming Pool Summer". Discogs (in Italian). 21 July 2017. Retrieved 2018-07-21.
32. "Safe And Sound 11th Anniversary Bundle by Capital Cities on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
33. "Capital Cities – Chart history: The Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
34. "Capital Cities – Chart history: Hot Rock & Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
35. "Capital Cities – Chart history: Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
36. "CZ - Radio - Top 100 - Capital Cities" (in Czech). IFPI Czech Republic. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
37. "Capital Cities – Chart history: Mexico Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
38. "Swiss album positions". hitparade.ch. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
39. "Capital Cities". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
40. "Beginnings – Single by Capital Cities". iTunes Store. 14 October 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
41. "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved October 8, 2024. Type Capital Cities in the box under the ARTISTA column heading.
42. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2014 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on April 17, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
43. "British single certifications – Capital Cities". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 24, 2023. Select singles in the Format field. Type Capital Cities in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
44. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Capital Cities)" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
45. "Italian single certifications – Capital Cities" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved January 22, 2021. Select "Tutti gli anni" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Capital Cities" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
46. "Austrian single certifications – Capital Cities" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
47. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Safe and Sound')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
48. "Canadian certifications – Capital Cities – Safe and Sound". Music Canada. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
49. "Capital Cities – Chart History: Hot Singles Sales Chart". Billboard. Billboard. Archived from the original on July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
50. "I Sold My Bed, But Not My Stereo – Single by Capital Cities". iTunes Store. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
51. "One Minute More by Capital Cities". ACharts. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
52. "Vowels – Single by Capital Cities". Apple Music. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
53. "Capital Cities Chart History – Rock Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
54. "My Name Is Mars – Single by Capital Cities". Apple Music. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
55. "Venus & River – Single by Capital Cities". iTunes Store. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
56. "Levitate – Single by Capital Cities". iTunes Store. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
57. "Capital Cities". Capital Cities. Retrieved 2024-06-23.

External links

• Official website

• American synth-pop groups
• Capitol Records artists
• Electronic music groups from California
• MTV Video Music Award winners
• Musical duos from California
• Musical groups established in 2010
• 2010 establishments in California
• Indie pop groups from California