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

Contents 1 Early life 2 Music career 3 Personal life 4 Filmography 5 References 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 mum had to flee and 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] In 2017, Simonian was featured on Armenian singer Sirusho's single "Vuy Aman".[19]

Personal life

Simonian is married with two sons, Rafi, who was born in 2014[20] and was baptized at the Mughni Monastery in Armenia.[9] and Hovan Andar, who was born in May 22, 2017 [21]

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 Rasputin-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 and an anarchist.[14]

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