Los Angeles indie electro unit Capital Cities got their start writing commercial jingles before shifting their bright and catchy songwriting talents into the world of pop. Synth-forward, horn-backed hits “Safe and Sound” and “Kangaroo Court” became viral favorites, landing their 2013 debut, In a Tidal Wave of Mystery, on the Billboard 200.
Founding composer/songwriters Ryan Merchant and @Sebu Simonian first came together in 2011 via Craigslist, working as commercial jingle writers. Shortly after meeting, they released an EP online, which included the song “Safe and Sound,” an upbeat mash of programming and melody that went viral and gained the act a lot of Internet exposure. The live band includes bassist Manny Quintero, trumpeters Spencer Ludwig and Will Artope, guitarists Nick Merwin and Vahagni, and drummers Channing Holmes and Aaron Prather. They played major international festivals such as Coachella (twice), Bonnaroo (twice) and Lollapalooza (4 times). Their full-length debut, In a Tidal Wave of Mystery, arrived on Capitol in June 2013. The band’s innovative video for “Safe and Sound” earned them a Grammy nomination. They further expanded their audience in 2014, hopping onto Katy Perry’s Prism tour as show openers.
Capital Cities returned in the summer of 2017 with their fourth EP, Swimming Pool Summer, which featured rapper Rick Ross on “Girl Friday.” A year later, they issued their sophomore full-length Solarize.
~Fred Thomas, Rovi