Sebu Simonian | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Sebu Simonian |
Born | Aleppo, Syria [1] | October 15, 1978
Origin | Los Angeles [2] |
Occupation(s) |
|
Instrument(s) |
|
Labels | Capitol |
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.
Simonian was born in 1978 in Aleppo, [1] Syria to Armenian parents from Lebanon, [7] [8] [9] 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] [10] 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." [11] Soon after his birth his family returned to Lebanon where they stayed until 1985 [12] 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, [13] while Simonian himself was an editorial assistant at the English Section of the Armenian daily Asbarez in the late 1990s. [14] He graduated from Glendale High School. [1] [15] He is an alumnus of the California State University, Northridge, [5] where he studied music. [15]
Simonian started his first band when he was 15. [12] In 2004, [16] Simonian (as lead singer and keyboardist) and Ryan Welker, guitarist and backing vocals, formed the rock [17] band Aviatic. [5]
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. [12] 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]
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.
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
2017 | Nice Evening (Լավ Երեկո) | Special guest |
...L.A. resident Sebu Simonian of Capital Cities...
Sebu Simonian of the Grammy nominated duo, Capital Cities, is a Singer/ Songwriter/ Producer...
...Sebu Simonian (a fabulous name only rivalled by his cracking beard)...
...Sebu's impressive facial hair...
Sebu Simonian | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Sebu Simonian |
Born | Aleppo, Syria [1] | October 15, 1978
Origin | Los Angeles [2] |
Occupation(s) |
|
Instrument(s) |
|
Labels | Capitol |
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.
Simonian was born in 1978 in Aleppo, [1] Syria to Armenian parents from Lebanon, [7] [8] [9] 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] [10] 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." [11] Soon after his birth his family returned to Lebanon where they stayed until 1985 [12] 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, [13] while Simonian himself was an editorial assistant at the English Section of the Armenian daily Asbarez in the late 1990s. [14] He graduated from Glendale High School. [1] [15] He is an alumnus of the California State University, Northridge, [5] where he studied music. [15]
Simonian started his first band when he was 15. [12] In 2004, [16] Simonian (as lead singer and keyboardist) and Ryan Welker, guitarist and backing vocals, formed the rock [17] band Aviatic. [5]
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. [12] 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]
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.
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
2017 | Nice Evening (Լավ Երեկո) | Special guest |
...L.A. resident Sebu Simonian of Capital Cities...
Sebu Simonian of the Grammy nominated duo, Capital Cities, is a Singer/ Songwriter/ Producer...
...Sebu Simonian (a fabulous name only rivalled by his cracking beard)...
...Sebu's impressive facial hair...