Indie-pop quartet The Aces released their highly-anticipated third studio album, I’ve Loved You For So Long, back in June. Spanning eleven tracks, the record sees the band reflect on their childhood and unpack how their early experiences with closeted love and religious trauma have influenced their relationships, mental health, and identity in the present.
Finding inspiration in the likes of The Cranberries and LCD Soundsystem, The Aces experimented with new styles while remaining authentic to their roots. The early singles caught the attention of tastemakers like KCRW, BBC Radio 1, and KROQ, to name a few, racking up over 12 million streams ahead of today’s release. The band is currently on a global tour supporting their album.
We are thrilled to have Alisa Ramirez from The Aces share invaluable advice and insights for industry newcomers
Hey, what's up, shesaid.so this is Alisa from the Aces, and I'm going to be answering some of your questions today.
What were some of the musical influences that inspired the sound of your latest record?
I'd say a big musical influence for this record was late 80s early 90s Shoegaze. And, kind of the end of New Wave as well as the beginning of Grunge. I feel that was a big thing for us. This record is largely about our teenage years and our youth and how experiences from our teenhood affect our adulthood. So it was very much about timing and kind of leaning into sounds that were really nostalgic to paint the pictures of the past and leaning into sounds that were really futuristic and really modern to paint the stories of our adulthood and our current moment. So I'd say timing and big eras of music - past and present - were really influential for the sound.
How do you overcome creative blocks?
I think having a creative block is really tough, but the best thing for me is just not trying to “beat it over the head”, you know? Just sitting at my studio desk, hoping something comes out. It's kind of a two-way street. If you're showing up to create something, and the Muses aren't showing up, then okay, it's not gonna happen. I think sometimes it just comes to you and it happens. But if you're going through a period where you just feel like you can't get it out or there's nothing inspiring, then I would just say take a break. Go live your life. Go read books, go to museums, explore, go out and meet new people. Just try to just live your life and find inspiration through everyday things and new experiences. That's what I always do. Seems to work.
What’s your top advice for young individuals wanting to become musicians?
I'd say just go for it. It's a lot of work practice. But if you love it, it won't feel like work. Just practice, practice, practice, build your audience, don't take no for an answer and just keep getting better at songwriting and keep getting better at whatever instrument you play. Keep chasing creativity, keep chasing inspiration.
Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Yeah, we do we always huddle up and do like a little mantra, kind of a prayer to the universe, kind of tap in and, and just, you know, ask to have a good show. None of us are very religious, but it's always a good feeling to kind of huddle up and combine our collective energy to put on the best performance we can.
If you could travel back in time to any musical era, which one would it be?
I would probably travel back to the 60s as it was a really exciting time. It was the first time that people were going electric. It was the first time people were talking about sex and mental health in a more forward way. It wasn't this kind of subliminal thing, it was more in your face. It just felt like the first time that music started to get really exciting and have a rebellious element to it, you know what I mean? And not just be kind of centred around like religion and social norms.
Okay, well, those are my answers. Have a good one!
The Aces Third Studio Album I’ve Loved You For So Long is out on Red Bull Records.