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.

~ Apple Music

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

Humble beginnings

In 2009 Sebu and Ryan were fledgling musicians looking for a break in the industry. They fell upon an opportunity to write a jingle for a cola ad, but the ad agency opted to go in a different direction. Instead of discarding the demo, the duo decided to turn it into an original record and called it “Safe And Sound”. They formed a band called Capital Cities and released the single in 2011. It became a global smash and earned a Grammy nomination for its music video. The cola brand that once rejected the song came back around to license it for a different ad campaign starring Zendaya.

Capital Cities
”All You Need Is Love” (feat. Richard John D’Ogustino)
Directed by Sebu and Alex Nisanian

Capital Cities
”Skeleton Man”