Capital Cities

Capital Cities are an American indie pop duo from Los Angeles, formed by Ryan Merchant and Sebu Simonian. The pair met while working on commercial jingles and film scores before turning their songwriting partnership into a full band, self-releasing their debut EP in 2011 behind the single «Safe and Sound». That song eventually became a breakout hit, topping the US Alternative chart and turning into a global radio and sync staple, including use in European TV advertising.

Musically, the duo built a reputation for a bright, horn-driven brand of electro-pop that blends disco basslines, funk guitar and dance-pop production with an upbeat, almost cinematic sheen. Their debut album «In a Tidal Wave of Mystery» expanded on the sound of the early singles with tracks like «Kangaroo Court» and «Farrah Fawcett Hair», cementing them as one of the more distinctive pop-crossover acts of the early 2010s.

Beyond their own catalogue, Merchant and Simonian have worked as producers and collaborators for other artists, carrying the same maximalist, hook-forward sensibility into that work. Capital Cities remain best known for «Safe and Sound», a song that has continued to find new audiences well beyond its initial chart run.