Music Metrics Vault

Capital Cities

Data updated on 2025-03-28 08:36:27 UTC
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 composers/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 shot to the top of the charts and keeps going viral.

Their full-length debut, In a Tidal Wave of Mystery, arrived on Capitol Records in June 2013. The band's innovative video for "Safe and Sound" earned them an MTV Moonman and Grammy nomination. They further expanded their audience in 2014, hopping onto Katy Perry's Prism tour as show openers.

Capital Cities returned in 2018 with their sophomore full-length Solarize, which featured rapper Rick Ross on "Girl Friday."

In 2025, they released A Hurricane Of Frowns, a massive collection of new music, unreleased rarities, remixes and covers. With alternative versions of songs from In A Tidal Wave of Mystery, including the experimental gem "Farrah Fawcett Hair" featuring André 3000, co-frontman/keyboardist Sebu calls it "a journey into a twisted, parallel universe."

Total plays

3.5 billion
Updated on 2025-03-28

Country

United States

Monthly listeners

13,327,997

Followers

971,451

Top Cities

  1. Mexico
    368,137 listeners
  2. Chile
    195,435 listeners
  3. Colombia
    176,646 listeners
  4. Brazil
    158,038 listeners
  5. Peru
    Lima
    151,433 listeners

Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
Safe And Sound - Milk N Cooks Dub Remix
Safe And Sound - Milk N Cooks Dub Remix
1,544,807,934 4:23 2014-01-01
Safe and Sound
Safe and Sound
1,544,807,934 3:13 2013-06-04
Kangaroo Court
Kangaroo Court
150,487,133 3:43 2013-06-04
One Minute More
One Minute More
30,651,917 3:23 2014-05-07
Vowels
Vowels
26,891,008 3:05 2016-09-16
I Sold My Bed, But Not My Stereo
I Sold My Bed, But Not My Stereo
23,508,054 3:54 2013-06-04
Stayin Alive
Stayin Alive
23,003,775 4:04 2013-01-01
Patience Gets Us Nowhere Fast
Patience Gets Us Nowhere Fast
18,625,063 3:08 2013-06-04
Swimming Pool Summer
Swimming Pool Summer
17,573,799 3:34 2017-07-07
Farrah Fawcett Hair
Farrah Fawcett Hair
17,266,684 3:50 2013-06-04
Chartreuse
Chartreuse
13,228,755 3:39 2013-06-04
Center Stage
Center Stage
13,042,682 4:02 2013-06-04
Origami
Origami
11,089,250 3:45 2013-06-04
Love Away
Love Away
10,080,403 3:42 2013-06-04
Safe And Sound - Dzeko And Torres' Digital Dreamin Remix
Safe And Sound - Dzeko And Torres' Digital Dreamin Remix
7,028,189 5:43 2014-05-07
Safe and Sound - DiscoTech Remix
Safe and Sound - DiscoTech Remix
6,296,800 4:33 2012-08-07
Chasing You
Chasing You
6,085,867 3:50 2013-06-04
Tell Me How to Live
Tell Me How to Live
5,952,020 3:24 2013-06-04
Sunburn Surrender
Sunburn Surrender
5,506,611 3:11 2018-08-10
Drifting
Drifting
5,463,755 3:19 2017-07-07
Drop Everything
Drop Everything
5,228,991 3:12 2017-07-07
Lazy Lies
Lazy Lies
4,457,192 2:57 2013-06-04
Girl Friday
Girl Friday
4,454,140 3:08 2017-07-07
Beginnings
Beginnings
3,828,164 2:29 2010-10-18
My Name Is Mars
My Name Is Mars
3,683,053 3:11 2018-03-30
Levitate
Levitate
3,348,758 3:11 2018-08-10
Kangaroo Court - Radio Edit
Kangaroo Court - Radio Edit
2,654,043 3:22 2014-04-01
Safe And Sound - Tommie Sunshine & Live City Remix
Safe And Sound - Tommie Sunshine & Live City Remix
2,502,869 5:53 2013-04-16
Space
Space
2,463,848 3:04 2018-08-10
Patience Gets Us Nowhere Fast - Napoleon Remix
Patience Gets Us Nowhere Fast - Napoleon Remix
2,320,486 5:17 2014-05-07
Safe And Sound - Cash Cash Remix
Safe And Sound - Cash Cash Remix
2,256,921 5:27 2013-04-16
Just Say When
Just Say When
2,227,344 3:11 2018-08-10
Venus & River
Venus & River
2,157,425 3:05 2018-08-10
Lazy Lies - CliffLight Remix
Lazy Lies - CliffLight Remix
2,018,504 3:52 2014-05-07
One Minute More - Space Primates Remix
One Minute More - Space Primates Remix
1,979,058 3:48 2014-08-25
Kangaroo Court - Forever Kid Remix
Kangaroo Court - Forever Kid Remix
1,721,651 4:42 2014-04-01
Post Cards
Post Cards
1,507,302 3:39 2023-03-10
Safe And Sound - RAC Mix
Safe And Sound - RAC Mix
1,465,958 4:13 2013-04-16
Nothing Compares 2 U
Nothing Compares 2 U
1,026,098 4:14 2024-05-24
Swimming Pool Summer - THCSRS Remix
Swimming Pool Summer - THCSRS Remix
1,002,447 3:58 2017-07-07
Only If You Want It
Only If You Want It
998,910 3:32 2018-08-10
Together
Together
805,486 3:56 2022-09-30
Safe And Sound - Alexis Troy Remix
Safe And Sound - Alexis Troy Remix
783,894 2:52 2013-04-16
One Minute More - Dream Fiend Remix
One Minute More - Dream Fiend Remix
707,969 3:49 2014-08-25
Gatekeeper Julie
Gatekeeper Julie
700,741 2:53 2018-08-10
Safe And Sound - Gainsford Remix
Safe And Sound - Gainsford Remix
696,908 5:31 2013-04-16
Good Enough
Good Enough
669,053 2:18 2018-08-10
Kangaroo Court - Shook Remix
Kangaroo Court - Shook Remix
640,860 4:10 2014-04-01
New Town Crier
New Town Crier
569,140 2:24 2025-02-14
One Minute More - Rad Stereo Remix
One Minute More - Rad Stereo Remix
547,314 4:47 2014-08-25
Summertime With U
Summertime With U
534,080 2:55 2023-08-25
Safe And Sound - ZIFRIOS & AnyMoreZ "Hardstyle" Remix
Safe And Sound - ZIFRIOS & AnyMoreZ "Hardstyle" Remix
509,505 3:08 2022-04-01
Skeleton Man
Skeleton Man
498,075 3:09 2023-10-19
Safe And Sound - Morgan Phillips Remix
Safe And Sound - Morgan Phillips Remix
440,998 2:41 2022-04-01
One Minute More - Elektromekanik Remix
One Minute More - Elektromekanik Remix
406,579 5:35 2014-08-25
Safe And Sound - DJ Politik Remix
Safe And Sound - DJ Politik Remix
398,655 5:23 2013-04-16
Kangaroo Court - Robert DeLong Remix
Kangaroo Court - Robert DeLong Remix
353,616 2:57 2014-04-01
She Flows Like H20
She Flows Like H20
338,136 2:36 2024-10-11
Two-Timin' My Mind
Two-Timin' My Mind
331,390 4:29 2023-03-10
Love Away (Predux)
Love Away (Predux)
237,682 3:38 2024-11-22
Summertime With U - St. Lucia Remix
Summertime With U - St. Lucia Remix
207,763 2:58 2024-07-19
Summertime With U - Loko Velocet Remix
Summertime With U - Loko Velocet Remix
159,849 3:14 2024-06-07
Tell Me How to Live (Redux)
Tell Me How to Live (Redux)
141,681 3:41 2025-01-17
Farrah Fawcett Hair (Predux)
Farrah Fawcett Hair (Predux)
138,484 3:13 2025-02-14
Safe And Sound - Jonah Walsh Remix
Safe And Sound - Jonah Walsh Remix
133,074 2:32 2022-04-01
Holiday
Holiday
107,232 4:24 2024-12-13
Safe And Sound - Jonah Walsh & Sebu ƠˆƠ²Ơ» Ô±Ơ¼Ơ¸Ơ²Ơ» Remake
Safe And Sound - Jonah Walsh & Sebu ƠˆƠ²Ơ» Ô±Ơ¼Ơ¸Ơ²Ơ» Remake
100,526 2:32 2022-04-01
Betcha Can't Wait
Betcha Can't Wait
87,661 2:16 2025-02-14
The Monster in My Closet
The Monster in My Closet
87,510 2:55 2024-10-11
Breathe (In The Air)
Breathe (In The Air)
69,772 3:13 2025-02-14
Safe And Sound - Rubic & QTNT Remix
Safe And Sound - Rubic & QTNT Remix
67,349 2:59 2022-04-01
Safe And Sound - AddYourOwnParts Redux
Safe And Sound - AddYourOwnParts Redux
54,082 3:10 2022-04-01
Safe And Sound (Predux)
Safe And Sound (Predux)
33,951 2:53 2025-02-14
I Sold My Bed, But Not My Stereo (Predux)
I Sold My Bed, But Not My Stereo (Predux)
27,834 3:41 2025-02-14
Patience Gets Us Nowhere Fast (Predux)
Patience Gets Us Nowhere Fast (Predux)
27,544 3:31 2025-02-14
New Town Crier (Napoleon Remake)
New Town Crier (Napoleon Remake)
20,732 3:32 2025-02-14
Center Stage (Predux)
Center Stage (Predux)
17,820 3:12 2025-02-14
You've Got A Lot of Explaining To Do
You've Got A Lot of Explaining To Do
15,707 3:13 2025-02-14
Shoes Like Rockets
Shoes Like Rockets
14,260 2:25 2025-02-14
Safe And Sound (Mattanoll Remix)
Safe And Sound (Mattanoll Remix)
13,462 3:42 2025-02-14
Chasing You (Dub Mix)
Chasing You (Dub Mix)
13,355 4:50 2025-02-14
One Minute More (Kryptogram Remix Sped Up)
One Minute More (Kryptogram Remix Sped Up)
12,710 4:41 2025-02-14
Kangaroo Court (Forever Kid Remix Slowed Down)
Kangaroo Court (Forever Kid Remix Slowed Down)
10,423 3:24 2025-02-14
Summertime With U - LiTTie Remix
Summertime With U - LiTTie Remix
10,001 2:47 2024-07-19
Pets (Live at Coachella)
Pets (Live at Coachella)
8,329 3:12 2025-02-14
All You Need Is Love
All You Need Is Love
7,902 2:00 2025-02-14
Summertime With U - Sped Up
Summertime With U - Sped Up
7,877 2:36 2024-07-19
One Minute More (Vigiletti Remix)
One Minute More (Vigiletti Remix)
6,609 4:07 2025-02-14
Summertime With U - Slowed Down + Reverb
Summertime With U - Slowed Down + Reverb
5,895 3:40 2024-07-19

New releases

A Hurricane of Frowns
A Hurricane of Frowns
2025-02-14
[Lazy Hooks, LLC]
Tell Me How to Live (Redux)
Tell Me How to Live (Redux)
2025-01-17
[Lazy Hooks, LLC]
Holiday
Holiday
2024-12-13
[Lazy Hooks, LLC]
Love Away (Predux)
Love Away (Predux)
2024-11-22
[Lazy Hooks, LLC]
She Flows Like H20 / The Monster in My Closet
She Flows Like H20 / The Monster in My Closet
2024-10-11
[Lazy Hooks, LLC]
Summertime With U
Summertime With U
2024-07-19
[Trumpet Records]
Summertime With U (Loko Velocet Remix)
Summertime With U (Loko Velocet Remix)
2024-06-07
[Trumpet Records]
Nothing Compares 2 U
Nothing Compares 2 U
2024-05-24
[Lazy Hooks]
Skeleton Man
Skeleton Man
2023-10-19
[Lazy Hooks]
Summertime With U
Summertime With U
2023-08-25
[Trumpet Records]
TOGETHER
TOGETHER
2022-09-30
[Everybody Knows / Capital Cities]
Safe and Sound 11th Anniversary Bundle
Safe and Sound 11th Anniversary Bundle
2022-04-01
[Lazy Hooks, LLC]
Solarize
Solarize
2018-08-10
[Lazy Hooks, LLC]
My Name Is Mars
My Name Is Mars
2018-03-30
[Lazy Hooks, LLC]
Swimming Pool Summer
Swimming Pool Summer
2017-07-07
[Lazy Hooks, LLC]
Vowels
Vowels
2016-09-16
[Lazy Hooks, LLC]
One Minute More (Remix)
One Minute More (Remix)
2014-08-25
[Lazy Hooks, LLC]
In A Tidal Wave of Mystery (Deluxe Edition)
In A Tidal Wave of Mystery (Deluxe Edition)
2014-05-07
[Lazy Hooks, LLC]
Kangaroo Court EP
Kangaroo Court EP
2014-04-01
[Lazy Hooks, LLC]
In A Tidal Wave of Mystery
In A Tidal Wave of Mystery
2013-06-04
[Lazy Hooks, LLC]
Safe and Sound Remix EP
Safe and Sound Remix EP
2013-04-16
[Lazy Hooks, LLC]
Beginnings
Beginnings
2010-10-18
[Antfood]