Betcha Can’t Wait / New Town Crier
“Nothing Compares 2 U” Now Streaming
The duo’s arrangement of the hit song is nearly unrecognizable as it kicks off, adding a super catchy synth-pop beat that’ll make you want to dance rather than cry, though the chorus retains the heartache.
— Billboard
Safe And Sound
Directed by Grady Hall
In a Tidal Wave of Mystery
Jingle composers Ryan Merchant and Sebu Simonian formed Capital Cities in 2010. The duo’s debut album, In a Tidal Wave of Mystery, is filled with catchy tunes, clever synth-pop arrangements, and smart turns of phrase.
The joyous "Safe and Sound" leads off the album, followed by equally infectious indie-dance gems like "Patience Gets Us Nowhere Fast" and "I Sold My Bed, But Not My Stereo." The centerpiece track, "Farrah Fawcett Hair," is a glorious bit of mock-anthemic dance rock with cameos from André 3000 and—improbably but wonderfully—NPR announcer Frank Tavares, whose deadpan listing of life's little pleasures lifts the song up to a whole new level of joyous absurdity.
Kangaroo Court
Directed by Carlos López Estrada
”Farrah Fawcett Hair (feat. André 3000)”
Directed by Logan Grimé
”Chasing You”
Directed by Thomas Kenney
”I Sold My Bed, But Not My Stereo”
Directed by Ellis Bahl
”One Minute More”
Directed by Brewer
”Patience Gets Us Nowhere Fast” (Napoleon Remix)
Directed by Christopher Etler (The Nobodies)
In the waning days…
… of the summer of 2018, Los Angeles duo Capital Cities issued their appropriately seasonal sophomore full-length, Solarize. The sun-washed set of futuristic synth-disco positively shimmers, providing an ideal soundtrack to smooth romancing and sweaty body-moving.
Less indie-precious than their 2013 debut, Solarize smooths the digital edge of their early sound in favor of warm tones, hypnotic beats, and a focus on a full album experience as opposed to a collection of singles.
Opener "Space" sets the stage, transporting listeners on a tropical escape to Capital Cities' own outer space beach resort, where songs such as "Venus & River" and "Levitate" swirl through the ether. Standout singles "Swimming Pool Summer," "My Name Is Mars," and the irresistible "Vowels" stand tall alongside previous catalog gems like "Kangaroo Court" and "Origami," while slinky deep cuts "Sunburn Surrender" and "Gatekeeper Julie" inject hypnotic groove.
The pair's signature horns are employed throughout, whether jolting "Swimming Pool Summer" to life or cooling off "Only If You Want It" with its sexy sax comedown.
Even though the former commercial jingle writers haven't rehashed "Safe and Sound" to cash in another indie hit, there's plenty to lure listeners here. Physically satisfying and endlessly funky, Solarize is confident, mature, and Capital Cities' strongest statement to date.
~ Neil Z. Yeung
”Swimming Pool Summer” (THCSRS Remix)
”Girl Friday (feat. Rick Ross)” [lyric video]
Directed by Ryan Wehner (Digital Twigs)
“My Name Is Mars” [lyric video]
Directed by PicsArt
”Vowels”
Directed by Remy Cayuel
All You Need Is Love
Directed by Sebu and Alex Nisanian
Skeleton Man
Kangaroo Court - A short film
Carlos López Estrada’s director’s cut of Capital Cities’ “Kangaroo Court” extends the music video into a short musical with a fresh, mind-blowing jazz-orchestral score by John W. Snyder.
Starring Ryan Merchant, Shannon Woodward, Darren Criss and Sebu Simonian.
The ad gig that started it all
In 2009 Sebu and Ryan fell upon an opportunity to write a commercial jingle for a cola brand, but the ad agency opted to go in a different direction.
The duo decided to turn the tune into an original record and called it “Safe And Sound”. They formed Capital Cities and released the single in 2011. It went viral on the blogosphere, got picked up by an alt-radio station in Peru, and turned heads at Capitol Records. It shot to #1 at alt-radio, earned an MTV award and Grammy nomination for its music video and turned the band into a festival-hopping globe-trotting sensation.
The cola brand that once rejected the song came back around to license it for a different ad campaign starring Zendaya.