Volcanic Sound
The Aces’ edgy but feminine spunk
As any good origin story goes, sisters Cristal and Alisa Ramirez dreamed of being musicians since their childhoods.
The Utah natives formed a band with their friends in high school, hustling throughout their teenage years to turn their hobby of performing at school and community function into a career. Now, the indie-pop group known as The Aces are in the midst of taking their ambitions cross-country on their own headlining tour nearly a year after the release of their debut album.
The group, comprised of Cristal (lead vocals and guitar), Alisa (drums), McKenna Petty (bass) and Katie Henderson (guitar), signed with Red Bull Records (yes, that Red Bull) and released its first single “Stuck” in 2016. The sunny pop tune peaked at #38 on the Billboard alternative chart in 2017, and last April, the Aces’ album When My Heart Felt Volcanic released to rave reviews.
The Aces are an unpredictably fun listen. They’ve got the charm of a pop girl group with just enough spunk to keep listeners on their toes. Bright guitar riffs and a danceable tempo make songs like “Lovin’ Is Bible” as fun as they are sexy, and “Hurricane” is the ballad with enough emotion to stop you in your tracks. The band members have cited Lorde’s success as an inspiration to pursue music, and their lyricism would make the poetic New Zealander proud.
Cristal’s lead vocals are a delicious croon with an angsty grit. With other band members harmonizing along with her on each track, the group cultivates a kind of Taylor Swift sweetness with Hayley Williams’ edge.
For all the comparisons that can be made between the Aces and other leading ladies in pop and indie rock, the group is hard to package. They’re more than just another girl group or a fun listen. They’re sugar and spice and hard work and femininity with a lingering teenage rebellious streak. They’re volcanic.
