Capital Cities (band)

* Indie pop
* dance-pop
* synth-pop
* indietronica
* Roc Nation
* Lazy Hooks
* Capitol
* Sebu Simonian

**Capital Cities** is an American pop duo from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2010 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 first top ten hit single. The band currently consists of Ryan Merchant, Sebu Simonian, Manny Quintero on bass guitar, Spencer Ludwig on trumpet, Nick Merwin on guitar and Channing Holmes on drums.

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

Merchant met Simonian on Craigslist after he responded to the other's open ad offering his production services. They soon fell into jingle-writing together, and after a successful three years 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", which is the album's first single. The song has been heard in promotional campaigns for HBO, Smart Car, Microsoft, Mazda and many other spots. The album also 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.

 File:Capital Cities rockin' the 'hoo!.jpg
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 at the Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix, AZ. 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 (Beck, 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 called 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 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 10th, 2018 as their latest album to date.

## Discography

### Studio albums

* Label: Lazy Hooks, Capitol
* Formats: CD, LP, digital download
 *Solarize* | * Released: August 10, 2018
* Label: Lazy Hooks, Capitol
* Formats: CD, LP, digital download

### Extended plays

* Label: Lazy Hooks
 *Capital Cities EP* | * Released: June 7, 2011
* Label: Lazy Hooks
 *Kangaroo Court EP* | * Released: December 17, 2013
* Label: Lazy Hooks
 *Swimming Pool Summer EP* | * Released: July 7, 2017
* Label: Lazy Hooks
* Formats: Digital download

## References

1. ↑ "Indie pop band Capital Cities at Ayala Malls". December 16, 2013. http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2013/12/16/1268561/indie-pop-band-capital-cities-ayala-malls. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
2. ↑ "On the Verge: Meet dance-pop duo Capital Cities". https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2013/06/22/on-the-verge-meet-dance-pop-duo-capital-cities/2440921/.
3. ↑ Usinger, Mike (May 23, 2013). "Capital Cities sets jingles aside for synth-pop hooks". *The Georgia Straight*. Vancouver Free Press. https://www.straight.com/music/384041/capital-cities-sets-jingles-aside-synth-pop-hooks. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
4. ↑ Thomas, Fred. "Capital Cities Bio". AllMusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/capital-cities-mn0002977610/biography. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
5. ↑ "Capital Cities: Unabashedly Cheery", Rappler (11 January 2014). Retrieved on 3 December 2014.
6. ↑ "On the Verge: Meet dance-pop duo Capital Cities", *USA Today* (22 June 2013). Retrieved on 28 August 2014.
7. ↑ "Capital Cities Drop Kangaroo Court". Billboard.com. 2012-03-29. http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/498715/listen-capital-cities-drop-kangaroo-court. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
8. ↑ "Pop Up! Hours Away!". PerezHilton.com. 2012-08-06. http://perezhilton.com/2012-08-06-perez-hilton-pop-up-compilation-album#.ULcII9PjlAg. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
9. ↑ "Billboard's Capital Cities biography page". Billboard.com. 2013-02-23. http://www.billboard.com/artist/1486226/capital-cities. Retrieved 2013-02-23.
10. ↑ "Vodafone commercial in german television". tvsongs.de. 2013-04-07. http://www.tvsongs.de/werbung/2013/vodafone-red-gut-dass-alles-drin-ist/. Retrieved 2013-04-08.
11. ↑ Template:Citation
12. ↑ "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. https://web.archive.org/web/20131021234830/http://indiemusic.co/2013/06/24/in-a-tidal-wave-of-mystery-capital-cities-debut-album-is-out/. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
13. ↑ "Capital Cities investe em "Safe and Sound" e lança terceiro videoclipe do single" (in Portuguese). *TecoApple*. MTV Brasil. 25 April 2013. http://tecoapple.mtv.uol.com.br/2013/04/25/capital-cities-safe-and-sound/. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
14. ↑ "SWEETLIFE - a sweetgreen festival". Archived from the original on 2014-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20140518225147/http://sweetlifefestival.com/.
15. ↑ "Eh-hem! About to track vocals.". https://www.facebook.com/capitalcities/photos/a.151563698188909.29101.122218011123478/1211525148859420. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
16. ↑ "It's on.". https://www.facebook.com/capitalcities/photos/a.151563698188909.29101.122218011123478/1226788250666443. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
17. ↑ "Capital Cities on Twitter" (in en). https://twitter.com/capitalcities/status/1025500850054029313. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
18. ↑ [[[:Template:BillboardURLbyName]] "Capital Cities – Chart history: Billboard 200"]. *Billboard*. Template:BillboardURLbyName. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Discographie Capital Cities" (in German). austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on August 31, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130831084407/http://austriancharts.at/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Capital+Cities. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Discographie Capital Cities" (in German). charts.de. Media Control. http://www.officialcharts.de/artist.asp?name=Capital+Cities&country=de. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
21. ↑ "Capital Cities - Safe And Sound (Remixes)" (in it). https://www.discogs.com/it/Capital-Cities-Safe-And-Sound-Remixes/release/5065864.
22. ↑ "Capital Cities - Capital Cities EP". https://www.discogs.com/Capital-Cities-Capital-Cities-EP/release/4268992.
23. ↑ "Capital Cities - Kangaroo Court EP" (in it). https://www.discogs.com/it/Capital-Cities-Kangaroo-Court-EP/release/11709492.
24. ↑ "Capital Cities - Swimming Pool Summer" (in it). https://www.discogs.com/it/Capital-Cities-Swimming-Pool-Summer/release/10602709.
25. ↑ [[[:Template:BillboardURLbyName]] "Capital Cities – Chart history: The Hot 100"]. *Billboard*. Template:BillboardURLbyName. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
26. ↑ [[[:Template:BillboardURLbyName]] "Capital Cities – Chart history: Alternative Songs"]. *Billboard*. Template:BillboardURLbyName. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
27. ↑ [[[:Template:BillboardURLbyName]] "Capital Cities – Chart history: Hot Rock Songs"]. *Billboard*. Template:BillboardURLbyName. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
28. ↑ "Discography Capital Cities". https://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Capital+Cities. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
29. ↑ [[[:Template:BillboardURLbyName]] "Capital Cities – Chart history: Canadian Hot 100"]. *Billboard*. Template:BillboardURLbyName. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
30. ↑ "Top Digital Download - Classifica settimanale WK 32 (dal 05-08-2013 al 11-08-2013)" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121025142120/http://www.fimi.it/classifiche\_digital.php. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
31. ↑ "Discography Capital Cities". swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130921125831/http://swisscharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Capital+Cities. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
32. ↑ "Capital Cities". Official Charts Company. http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/\_/capital%20cities/. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
33. ↑ "Beginnings – Single by Capital Cities". *iTunes Store*. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/beginnings-single/id398949429. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
34. ↑ "Gold & Platinum: Capital Cities". Recording Industry Association of America. https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Capital+Cities%22. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
35. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2014 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on April 17, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140417201540/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupagesaria-charts-accreditations-singles-2014.htm. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
36. ↑ Template:Cite certification
37. ↑ Template:Cite certification
38. ↑ Template:Cite certification
39. ↑ "I Sold My Bed, But Not My Stereo – Single by Capital Cities". *iTunes Store*. https://itunes.apple.com/ph/album/i-sold-my-bed-but-not-my-stereo/id725334494. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
40. ↑ "Venus & River – Single by Capital Cities". *iTunes Store*. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/venus-river-single/1409013688. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
41. ↑ "Levitate – Single by Capital Cities". *iTunes Store*. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/venus-river-single/1409013688. Retrieved July 20, 2018.

## External links

* Template:Official website

Template:Capital Cities
Template:Authority control