The Aces don't like being honest. Well, at least that's what their debut EP leads you to believe. Truthfully, the Utah foursome is as playful as they are sincere. As The Aces, sisters Cristal and Alisa Ramirez are joined by junior high pals McKenna Petty and Katie Henderson. They make the kind of music that's fearlessly honest, flirtatious as times, and deliciously pop rock. There is not one song off of their I Don't Like Being Honest EP you cannot bop to. Hell, it's the soundtrack a character in a John Hughes movie would lip-synch to with a pink hairbrush in their bedroom mirror. The Aces are onto something special—something that, for lack of a better word, is straight-up cool. Slip into your favorite '90s-inspired silk dress, throw on a black leather jacket, and press play. The Aces are just that: ace.
What are you most proud of so far in terms of your career?
That we were able to write music that we genuinely love and are proud of, and that we were able to get to a point where we could make our art our career.
What famous person dead or living do most wish you could have as a roommate?
Blake Lively. [Laugh]
What is your favorite driving music?
We all jam out HARD to The Drums and Rihanna when we’re driving.
Whose career would you most like to emulate?
The Beatles. Currently, Drake or Taylor Swift.
What’s your favorite place to write music?
Depends on the mood. We typically write a lot of music in L.A. and NYC. Both bring totally different vibes.
Describe your aesthetic in three words.
Individual, sisterhood, classic.
If you had to wear one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be, and why?
A loose T-shirt and black skinny jeans with some classic boots or Converse; top it off with some cool oversized denim or classic biker jacket.
Do you have any pre-show superstitions?
We always have a group huddle, meditation, and prayer.
If you had to live in a past time, what do you think would be the most fun era and why?
Probably the '80s. The music was rad and fashion was poppin'!
What activities do most enjoy doing alone?
Meditating, yoga, and running.
When are you most relaxed?
Out in nature, hiking in our hometown.
What was the last great thing you read?
Cristal Ramirez:Forgive Me If I’ve Told You This Before by Karelia Stetz-Waters.
Alisa Ramirez:Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert and The Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice by Deborah Adele.
McKenna Petty:Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy.
Katie Henderson:Girl in a Band by Kim Gordon.
What kind of person were you in high school?
CR: I was just really low-key. I was really into my music from a young age, so I skipped school a lot. I also got named “sleepy head” in my high school yearbook.
AR: My mindset was "[get] in and out as fast as possible." The only classes I really showed up for were Film as Literature and English. I was great at school before I decided I rather be in a band forever though! I was 4.0 to barely passing in one night. [Laughs]
KP: I was a bookworm and very serious about my grades. I would spend lunches studying for my AP classes. I also ran cross country and was on student council for a couple years. I always did music, too.
KH: I was a jock. I played soccer and basketball and took state championships in both. School, for me, was all about sports.
Can you tell me a quality about yourself that you are genuinely proud of?
CR: I feel really proud of my drive and work ethic. If I really want something, I work until I get it.
AR: I feel like I'm very balanced. The type who, during the weekdays, gets up and goes to bed early and doesn't put things off. When the weekend hits, though, sayonara! I'm going out, and going hard! Talk to ya Monday. I vacation very well.
KP: I feel that people feel comfortable confiding in me and that I can relate easily to others.
KH: I feel I can stay level-headed and deal with adversity well, enjoying every situation.
Do you have any phobias?
We all hate spiders and snakes—yuck! And heights!
What’s a side of you that people are unlikely to know about?
CR: I really love to box. Most people are surprised when I tell them that!
AR: I wish I were a bomb hip-hop dancer. I watch dance videos all the time. Is that embarrassing?
KP: I love school and learning! I went to college for a bit and an advanced education is one of my long-term goals.
KH: I love sports! I'm constantly watching NBA or NFL games until the girls get sick of me. [Laughs]
What are some new hobbies you would like to take on?
CR: I would love to learn how to record and produce music. I'm mostly a songwriter, but I really want to learn the other side of it, too.
AR: I really want to get into yoga. I’ve always dabbled, but I wanna go DEEP. Like, be one of those crazy-flexible, super “in tune” with their bodies type of yogi.
KP: I've been getting really into botany lately. After I got poison oak real bad on a hike, I want to know how to recognize every plant and live in the wild.
KH: DJing. I've started learning and getting better along with producing music.
What’s your next project?
Right now we are really focused on The Aces and releasing our debut album.
Where do you hope to be professionally in five years?
The sky is really the limit for us. We really just hope we always continue to release music that resonates with people. We want to innovate and do things that haven’t been done before.
If there was one phrase that best sums up your approach to life, what might it be?
I think we all really try to just go with the flow and realize that energy spent on things that you can’t control is energy wasted. We think that is one of the most important things to realize in life.
