Skip to main content

Capital Cities: you need to hear this!



BIG SUNGLASSES ALL AROUND!


Capital Cities are pretty new and fresh in the music world. Meaning, their debut EP was released last June. But this band has been riding nothing but a wave of positive feedback since, and has slowly managed to COMMAND AND CONQUER the ever-fickle Hype Machine charts. 


I managed to get a hold of band member (it's a duo!) Ryan Merchant for a few fast questions regarding their growing popularity, being from LA, dancing fans and what they're up to next. Being from LA sounds very exciting, I know. West coast = best coast (not the singer)



You guys are getting a lot of buzz these days! I see you all over my hype machine and last.fm. How do you feel?

Ryan:  We feel ecstatic! It's amazing to watch your music organically spread across the internet and connect with people in all parts of the World. When "Safe and Sound" went to # 2 on the Hype Machine most popular chart we were blown away. All of this activity makes us want to keep writing and playing as much as possible.  

Your debut EP just came out in June. What was it like putting it together?

Ryan:  We spent a long time on this EP. All of the songs went through several transformations before we finished them up. It was challenging, but enjoyable. The best part about it was arriving at a cohesive sound that still incorporated so many different styles and sounds into the productions.


Who are your foremost musical inspirations?

Ryan:  Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Underworld, Royksopp, AIR, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell 

What's the Los Angeles music scene like, as of the moment? I say this as someone at the other end of the country.

Ryan:  It's hard to define the L.A. scene because L.A. is so huge. That said, we've been really impressed with bands like The Local Natives, Aloe Blacc and Foster The People. They all write great songs that are memorable, yet maintain a lot of artistic integrity. That's what we aspire to.  
What are your plans for the future?

Ryan:  We plan on touring extensively and working on our debut album. 

What is one thing people should know about your band?

Ryan:  There is nothing we enjoy more than seeing people dance at our live shows.  

feel free to say anything else, I like you guys!

Ryan:  Our friend Simon Mills, from the UK electronica duo BENT, is releasing a solo album under the name Napoleon. We co-wrote and sing on two tracks. No specific release date as of yet.

many thanks to Ryan for taking the time to do this!

listen here:  


so I have a feeling we should be hearing about these guys more soon. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

"Mon Soleil" - Ashley Park

If there's anything people take away from my piss-poor legacy, I hope it's what a huge, unabashed fan of "Emily in Paris" I am and will continue to be. People love "90 Day Fiancee," "The Bachelor," and other garbage - allow me "Emily," which is at least harmless, kind of goofy fluff (which does, unfortunately, lean into some stereotypes, as the country of Ukraine knows ). I have already watched Season 2 twice. And honestly my favorite part of this show (despite my crush on Camille Razart and Lily Collins channeling Audrey Hepburn hardcore ) is Ashley Park. This woman has superstar written all over her. She's a bona fide Broadway star, and "Emily in Paris" has served as her pivot into the zeitgeist.  "Emily in Paris" is also showcasing her vocal prowess front and center this season, with her covering BTS, "All By Myself," "Sympathtique," and Marilyn Monroe. But the real standout performance is th

"Anchors" - AM Higgins

Here's a nice breezy, almost sensual song from AM Higgins (the solo project of musician Annie Toth) to start your Tuesday off right.  Her debut album "Hymning" will be out November 5th on Victorialand Records. The album was mixed by Casey Foubert, a frequent collaborator of Sufjan Stevens. The album "captures the first years of moving from an American city to rural France." Sounds like "Hymning" will be a welcome escape from the world we live in right now, especially considering that Annie Toth counts poets Mary Oliver and Thomas Merton as influences.

Summer Playlist - 2022 Edition!

 It's truly the little things in life that make a world of difference. And for me, that means my summer playlist! Behold, I have put together 2022's edition. It includes cuts from artists like: - Mitski - Uffie - Johnny Orlando - Kylie Minogue + Jessie Ware - Florence and the Machine (who put out a fantastic album this year after a long dry spell of kind of "meh" records. Her pairing with Jack Antonoff worked out quite well!)  - Bilal - Harry Styles (he has some catchy music!)  - KATE BUSH DUH - And of course, Lana. It's also available on Apple Music, but since I recognize a lot of folks use Spotify, here's that link. Enjoy!