Sebu Simonian
Simonian in 2013
Simonian in 2013
Background information
Birth nameSebu Simonian
Born (1978-10-15) October 15, 1978
Aleppo, Syria[1]
OriginLos Angeles[2]
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Instrument(s)
  • Keyboards
  • programming
  • vocals
LabelsCapitol

Sebu Simonian (born October 15, 1978;[3] Armenian: Սեպուհ Սիմոնեան)[4] is an Armenian-American musician, singer, songwriter,[5] and record producer,[6] one-half of the Los Angeles-based indie pop duo Capital Cities.

Early life

Simonian was born in 1978 in Aleppo,[1] Syria to Armenian-Lebanese parents,[7][8] whose ancestors were survivors of the Armenian genocide.[1] His paternal grandfather was from the region of Cilicia (in present-day Turkey's Çukurova region).[1][9] Simonian's parents were from Beirut, Lebanon, but "because of a civil war [his] mum had to flee and [he] happened to be born in Syria."[10] Soon after his birth his family returned to Lebanon where they stayed until 1985[11] and moved to the United States due to the civil war there.[7]

Simonian grew up in Los Angeles County.[7] His family is involved in the Armenian community,[12] while Simonian himself was an editorial assistant at the English Section of the Armenian daily Asbarez in the late 1990s.[13] He graduated from Glendale High School.[1][14] He is an alumnus of the California State University, Northridge,[5] where he studied music.[14]

Music career

Simonian started his first band when he was 15.[11] In 2004,[15] Simonian (as lead singer and keyboardist) and Ryan Welker, guitarist and backing vocals, formed the rock[16] band Aviatic.[5]

Simonian met Ryan Merchant in 2008 through Craigslist while searching for a job as a music producer.[17] Initially, they worked as jingle writers and wrote songs for other bands.[18] They formed the indie pop duo Capital Cities in 2010.[11] Simonian was featured on Brian Wilson's 2015 album No Pier Pressure, performing and producing the track "Runaway Dancer".[19] In 2017, Simonian was featured on Armenian singer Sirusho's single "Vuy Aman".[20]

Personal life

Simonian is married and has two sons.

Simonian wears a long beard, which has gained significant media attention.[21][22] Rolling Stone magazine named his beard the best at the 2014 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and described it as "luxuriant [and] Rasputin-like" and rabbi-like.[23] When asked why he doesn't shave, he responded "I'm just lazy" and added that he sees himself as "a little bit of" a hipster.

Filmography

As himself
Year Title Notes
2017 Nice Evening (Լավ Երեկո) Special guest

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Subu Simonian Interview with "Armenians of the World" program" (in Armenian). Shant TV. 2 November 2014.
  2. ↑ Baltin, Steve (31 August 2014). "Made in America L.A.: Imagine Dragons, Kendrick Lamar, Afrojack Rock Day 1". Billboard. Retrieved 4 December 2014. ...L.A. resident Sebu Simonian of Capital Cities...
  3. ↑ "Sebu Simonian profile on Facebook".
  4. ↑ Սեպուհ Սիմոնեան Պիտի Մասնակցի Հայ Դատի "Ֆիլմ Եւ Արուեստներ" Խորհրդակցութեանց. Asbarez (in Armenian). 21 October 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 Mancina, Kristin (20 September 2005). "Rockers Aviatic draw large fan base to the Roxy". The Daily Sundial. California State University, Northridge. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  6. ↑ Cozette, Maria (16 June 2014). "Music Box with Maria Cozette- Guest, Sebu Simonian (Capital Cities)". SoulfulPop. Horizon Television. Retrieved 28 August 2014. Sebu Simonian of the Grammy nominated duo, Capital Cities, is a Singer/ Songwriter/ Producer...
  7. 1 2 3 Sadeghi, Shirin (17 July 2013). "Capital Cities' Feel Good Hit of the Summer". Rolling Stone Middle East. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  8. ↑ Corona, Angelica (31 May 2013). "Interview with Sebu Simonian of Capital Cities". LA Music Blog. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  9. ↑ Trvants, Anush (28 August 2014). "Սեպուհ Սիմոնյան. Ուզում եմ լինել աշխարհի քաղաքացի, բայց առանց հայությունից ազատագրվելու". 168.am (in Armenian). Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  10. ↑ Phillips, Noel (24 September 2013). "Interview with Sebu Simonian: The singer and producer of Capital Cities, on their new album 'In a Tidal Wave Of Mystery'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  11. 1 2 3 Lopez, Korina (22 June 2013). "On the Verge: Meet dance-pop duo Capital Cities". USA Today. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  12. ↑ Chaderjian, Paul (9 November 2013). "Sebu Simonian: From AYF Camp to the Top of the Music Charts with Capital Cities". CivilNet. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  13. ↑ "Capital Cities' Sebu Simonian to be Panelist at ANCA Grassroots". Asbarez. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  14. 1 2 "Capital Cities' Sebu Simonian: In a Tidal Wave of Mystery". kenphillipsgroup.com. Ken Phillips Publicity Group. 18 October 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  15. ↑ "Aviatic - Biography". LetsSingIt. 16 January 2007. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  16. ↑ "Big, big rock". Chicago Tribune. 5 January 2006. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  17. ↑ Ragogna, Mike (14 March 2014). "Talking With Capital Cities' Sebu Simonian, a Chat with Michael Maguire, The Who's Tommy Revisited, and the Teacarina". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  18. ↑ Imbong, Peter (11 January 2014). "Capital Cities: Unabashedly Cheery". Rappler. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  19. ↑ Pareles, John (6 April 2015). "Review: Brian Wilson's Nostalgic, Reflective 'No Pier Pressure'". New York Times.
  20. ↑ "Տեսահոլովակի պրեմիերա. Սիրուշո և Սեբու' "Վույ աման"". Panorama.am. July 5, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  21. ↑ Spence-Jones, George A (18 October 2013). "AMS Album of the Week: In a Tidal Wave of Mystery". Felix. ...Sebu Simonian (a fabulous name only rivalled by his cracking beard)...
  22. ↑ Subijano, Cai (17 January 2014). "Capital Cities: How to compose the sweet sound of success". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 4 December 2014. ...Sebu's impressive facial hair...
  23. ↑ "50 Best Things We Saw at Coachella 2014: Best Beard: Capital Cities". Rolling Stone. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
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