Interview: The Aces Perform "Stuck," Talk Choosing Music Over College

The Aces turned down college education to hit the road on tour and make a killer new EP called I Don't Like Being Honest.

This Utah-based quartet started their band before any of them were even 12 years old. But gigs came easy for the preteens in the college town of Provo, UT, which meant they started getting good really early, they tell Jonathan Clarke on Q104.3's "Out of the Box." 

"The reason why it was good for us as kids is because due to all the college students being religious, they can't drink," drummer Alisa Ramirez recalls, "so all of the venues were all-ages." 

That meant The Aces didn't have problems getting shows, often sharing bills with much older artists and learning early how to perform and present themselves as professionals. 

But high school graduation complicated things for the band. Bassist McKenna Petty and guitarist Katie Henderson both had scholarships offers from colleges, so the band's future was up in the air for months until the four had a much-needed and candid meeting when they discovered they were all on the same page.

"I literally just drove to [singer Crystal Ramirez's] house," Henderson says of that decision. "I was in tears and I was like, 'I can't [leave the band behind].' And then McKenna pulled up and then Alicia got in there, and it was just like this awakening moment, like, 'We are gonna do this.'"

So far, it's going well. The Aces got signed to Red Bull Records last October. They've release several music videos, played showcases across the world and polished off their debut. 

Check out the full interview above.

Keep up with The Aces on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or at the band's official website here. 

Here's the music video for The Aces' song "Stuck":