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Sebu Simonian

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Sebu Simonian
Simonian in 2024
Simonian in 2024
Background information
Born
Sebu Simonian

(1978-10-15) October 15, 1978 (age 47)
Aleppo, Syria[1]
OriginLos Angeles, U.S.[2]
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
[3]
Instruments
  • Keyboards
  • vocals
Member ofCapital Cities

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

Early life

[edit]

Simonian was born in 1978 in Aleppo,[1] Syria, to Armenian parents from Lebanon,[6][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.[6]

Simonian grew up in Los Angeles County.[6] 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,[15] where he studied music.[14]

Career

[edit]

Simonian started his first band when he was 15.[11] In 2004,[16] Simonian (as lead singer and keyboardist) and Ryan Welker, guitarist and backing vocals, formed the rock[17] band Aviatic.[15]

Simonian met Ryan Merchant in 2008 through Craigslist while searching for a job as a music producer.[18] Initially, they worked as jingle writers and wrote songs for other bands.[19] 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".[20] In 2017, Simonian was featured on Armenian singer Sirusho's single "Vuy Aman".[21]

Personal life

[edit]

Simonian is married and has two sons.[citation needed]

Simonian wears a long beard, which has gained significant media attention.[22][23] 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.[24] 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

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

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e "Subu Simonian Interview with "Armenians of the World" program" (in Armenian). Shant TV. November 2, 2014.
  2. ^ Baltin, Steve (August 31, 2014). "Made in America L.A.: Imagine Dragons, Kendrick Lamar, Afrojack Rock Day 1". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2014. ...L.A. resident Sebu Simonian of Capital Cities...
  3. ^ Cozette, Maria (June 16, 2014). "Music Box with Maria Cozette- Guest, Sebu Simonian (Capital Cities)". SoulfulPop. Horizon Television. Retrieved August 28, 2014. Sebu Simonian of the Grammy nominated duo, Capital Cities, is a Singer/ Songwriter/ Producer...
  4. ^ "Sebu Simonian profile on Facebook".
  5. ^ Սեպուհ Սիմոնեան Պիտի Մասնակցի Հայ Դատի "Ֆիլմ Եւ Արուեստներ" Խորհրդակցութեանց. Asbarez (in Armenian). October 21, 2013. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  6. ^ a b c Sadeghi, Shirin (July 17, 2013). "Capital Cities' Feel Good Hit of the Summer". Rolling Stone Middle East. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  7. ^ Corona, Angelica (May 31, 2013). "Interview with Sebu Simonian of Capital Cities". LA Music Blog. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  8. ^ Lopez, Korina. "On the Verge: Meet dance-pop duo Capital Cities". USA TODAY. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  9. ^ Trvants, Anush (August 28, 2014). "Սեպուհ Սիմոնյան. Ուզում եմ լինել աշխարհի քաղաքացի, բայց առանց հայությունից ազատագրվելու". 168.am (in Armenian). Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  10. ^ Phillips, Noel (September 24, 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 September 3, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  11. ^ a b c Lopez, Korina (June 22, 2013). "On the Verge: Meet dance-pop duo Capital Cities". USA Today. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  12. ^ Chaderjian, Paul (November 9, 2013). "Sebu Simonian: From AYF Camp to the Top of the Music Charts with Capital Cities". CivilNet. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  13. ^ "Capital Cities' Sebu Simonian to be Panelist at ANCA Grassroots". Asbarez. October 18, 2013. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  14. ^ a b "Capital Cities' Sebu Simonian: In a Tidal Wave of Mystery". kenphillipsgroup.com. Ken Phillips Publicity Group. October 18, 2013. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  15. ^ a b Mancina, Kristin (September 20, 2005). "Rockers Aviatic draw large fan base to the Roxy". The Daily Sundial. California State University, Northridge. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  16. ^ "Aviatic – Biography". LetsSingIt. January 16, 2007. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  17. ^ "Big, big rock". Chicago Tribune. January 5, 2006. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  18. ^ Ragogna, Mike (March 14, 2014). "Talking With Capital Cities' Sebu Simonian, a Chat with Michael Maguire, The Who's Tommy Revisited, and the Teacarina". The Huffington Post. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  19. ^ Imbong, Peter (January 11, 2014). "Capital Cities: Unabashedly Cheery". Rappler. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  20. ^ Pareles, John (April 6, 2015). "Review: Brian Wilson's Nostalgic, Reflective 'No Pier Pressure'". New York Times.
  21. ^ "Տեսահոլովակի պրեմիերա. Սիրուշո և Սեբու' "Վույ աման"". Panorama.am. July 5, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  22. ^ Spence-Jones, George A (October 18, 2013). "AMS Album of the Week: In a Tidal Wave of Mystery". Felix. ...Sebu Simonian (a fabulous name only rivalled by his cracking beard)...
  23. ^ Subijano, Cai (January 17, 2014). "Capital Cities: How to compose the sweet sound of success". The Philippine Star. Retrieved December 4, 2014. ...Sebu's impressive facial hair...
  24. ^ "50 Best Things We Saw at Coachella 2014: Best Beard: Capital Cities". Rolling Stone. April 14, 2014. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
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