Fresh off the June release of their album “I’ve Loved You For So Long,” the Utah-born, Brooklyn-bred and now LA-based indie-pop band the Aces helped kick off Live from My Den Season 5. Band members Cristal Ramirez, McKenna Petty, Alisa Ramirez and Katie Henderson joined Alan Light to reflect on their move from a small town to New York and how the city has influenced their careers and the creation of their sound.
“We didn’t know any artists growing up. We didn’t know anyone that made art for a living at all or even really engaged in it outside of it being a hobby that you did in your own time,” said Alisa. “So I think for us, inspiration-wise and creatively, what New York really did for us, too, was it gave us the space to explore who we were freely because we couldn’t do that where we came from.”
“We come from a really religious town — Orem, Utah. And us three identify as gay. And this was the first place that we came and we were all out…It gave us a place to actually be free and to actually explore and discover. And so I think it really bled into the music. That whole first record was really about a lot of firsts,” said Alisa about the Ace’s 2018 debut album. “Coming of age the first time, dating a girl the first time, going to a bar, you know. Cristal turned 21 here. So it was a lot of stuff like that.”
Not only did New York provide a haven for the Aces in their coming-of-age years, but it helped shape the sound that they believe defines their band. “New York for us brought out that youthful aggression to prove ourselves,” said Cristal.
Alisa added, “Building our sound of Brooklyn, but I think it’s stayed with us throughout our entire discography, whether we explore other genres or try different things. I think there’s this very quintessential Aces sub-layer of indie rock that’s always present.”
The band performed songs from their new album including title track “I’ve Loved You For So Long” along with “Girls Make Me Wanna Die,” “Always Get This Way,” “Suburban Blues” and “Miserable.”
This season of Live from My Den is made possible by Hard Rock and in partnership with Fujifilm North America Corporation.