The Aces
Combining alternative and indie-pop, elements of pop-rock, and '80s new wave, this girl band from Utah has been unapologetically carving out a unique space for themselves in the music industry and creating a safe space for queer female fans.
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When sisters Cristal and Alisa Ramirez were only 10 and 8 years old, they formed a band in their family’s garage. It started with Cristal singing and Alisa, a self-proclaimed drummer, using anything she could find as a drumming tool. However, it soon started resembling something much more tangible when Cristal recruited their childhood friends McKenna Petty and Katie Henderson, who brought in bass and guitar elements respectively. Being from a small town called Provo in Utah, the girls grew up in a very religious and conservative environment, which made it harder to express themselves authentically but made it much easier to get the word about their band out there even as teenagers because strict alcohol policies allowed them to play in most popular venues in town.
Originally called 'The Blue Aces', the band has officially existed since 2007, but since their second studio album 'Under My Influence' came out in 2020, they have started gaining a bigger fanbase worldwide. So far, The Aces have released one EP and 3 studio albums, with the fourth currently being underway. Even before they started headlining their own tours, they accompanied world-famous groups such as COIN, The Vamps, and even 5 Seconds Of Summer on their shows as an opening act. Soon, the girls captured the hearts of American teenagers and young adults and got their own devoted fanbase, who even started getting The Aces-themed tattoos.
The main reason this band gets under people's skin so easily is the omnipresent openness, authenticity, and honesty in their lyrics. But, it wasn't always easy for the Ramirez sisters to write lyrics that felt completely true to themselves. Intending to always be honest with their fans, they have admitted multiple times how hard it was to start including female pronouns in their songs. This was largely because of the extremely religious community they grew up in, and their initial contacts in the music industry advising them to avoid writing openly queer lyrics, even though both of the sisters identify as queer. But after their first studio album, which avoided pronouns altogether, they realized they wanted to be more open with fans even if that cost them the freshly gained popularity. So they started writing about their queer relationships and love stories and, as it turns out, this made them gain an even bigger (and more international) fanbase, especially during lockdown.
Their second studio album helped so many young queer women find a fandom that felt safe and comforting and made them feel less alone in times of worldwide isolation. The Aces make music that tells their relationship stories, but a lot of their songs are also about growing up in Utah and finding yourself in an environment that is trying to stop you from being who you are. Multiple songs talk about religious trauma tied to their queer identities, and coming of age while questioning the conservative upbringing they had. Songs like '801', 'Lovin' is Bible', and 'Suburban Blues' touch on these topics with an honesty and vulnerability that will speak to you even if you haven't had this particular experience. Despite feeling constricted while growing up in their hometown, they also hold a lot of love and appreciation for it, which also shines through their lyrics. Other songs describe all different kinds of dating and relationship situations that everyone can relate to, but some of the songs especially speak to queer women, such as 'New Emotion', 'Waiting for You', 'Girls Make Me Wanna Die', and many more. But there are also themes of struggling with anxiety, which the lead singer Cristal has since opened up about, especially prominent in songs 'Don't Freak' and 'Always Get This Way'.
The girls’ passion for the music they make is even more obvious during their live performances, which I had the pleasure of experiencing in a small and intimate venue. This made the atmosphere even more electric. Both the band and the fans bring so much joy and good energy to the shows that it’s practically impossible not to find it contagious. But there is also a real sense of safety, camaraderie, and love present in the crowd that is rarely experienced in the same measure during concerts.
The Aces are currently working on their fourth studio album, which is set to come out this year. So far, they’ve released two singles, titled 'Jealous' and 'The Magic', which both speak to their recognizable style while also bringing in fresh rhythmic elements that are keeping fans excited for the new release. Even though the band has existed for a long time, it feels like they’ve been reaching new breakthroughs in popularity in the past couple of years, which will most definitely continue with the new album.