Ellie’s Pick: “Always Get This Way” — The Aces
Highlighting women that rock, it only makes sense I feature my favorite band of all time, The Aces! They are an indie-pop band from Utah formed by sisters Cristal and Alisa Ramirez, along with friends McKenna Petty and Katie Henderson. Originally called The Blue Aces, they released a couple EPs before rebranding in 2014. In 2016 they signed with Red Bull Records and a year later they released their debut EP as The Aces, I Don’t Like Being Honest. Since then, the band has released two studio albums. Their third album I’ve Loved You For So Long releases on June 2, 2023.
Touching on the topic of anxiety, “Always Get This Way” is one of the more vulnerable tracks from the band. Masked by The Aces’s signature, 80’s pop inspired sound, the song discusses how society negatively views people struggling with mental health. Lead singer Cristal notes, “we hold no space for those struggling mentally in our society, and we just kind of wish they’d get over it and quit being an inconvenience.” “Always Get This Way” reminds us to be more conscious and to always approach one another with love and kindness.
Claire’s Pick: “Worse Together” — Venus and the Flytraps
On my extensive list of female rockers, Venus and the Flytraps are at the top! The Nashville-based band creates refreshingly honest alternative rock music. Brenna Kasis and Ceci Tomè met during their freshman year of college in a songwriting class, and shortly after, Venus was born. Together the two bring feminine angst into catharsis, merging introspective lyricism with grungy upbeat rock melodies. Their latest single, “Worse Together,” is an ode to toxic relationships, highlighting the cognitive dissonance of staying in an unhealthy relationship for too long. The song feels like a modern arena rock track with large gang vocal chants, tight drums, and dynamic tempo changes.
Venus and the Flytraps released their debut EP, Dumbing of Age, in August of last year and have since taken the local scene by storm. The group recently opened for another local rockstar, Molly Martin, and is set to perform alongside Tommy Lefroy and Samia at the Brooklyn Bowl tonight, March 11th.
Moreover, the band is preparing to release their second single, “Red Hot,” which is a track from their upcoming EP, Venus in Love. The new single is set to be released on March 16th.
Christina’s Pick: “I Don’t Wanna Want It” — The Foxies
This week I’ve been loving “I Don’t Wanna Want It”, an upbeat, pop-punk earworm by local band The Foxies. The track was released as a single off their 2022 album, Who Are You Now, Who Were You Then?
The glitter-punk band features frontwoman and vocalist Julia Lauren Bullock, who found inspiration in pop icons like Prince and David Bowie; combining these influences with modern glam-rock and grunge elements. Bullock grew up in North Carolina, watching her father play in bands and eventually making her own way into the local music scene. The singer made her debut as an artist in NYC and Phoenix before officially moving to Music City in search of the right band. It was not long after that Bullock connected with multi-instramentalist, songwriter, and producer Jake Ohlbaum as well as experienced pop-punk drummer Rob Bodley.
Caden’s Pick: “Moonlit” — RIVALS
Since March is Women’s History Month, it makes complete sense to showcase a woman that we think rocks! While it is difficult to choose just one, I ultimately chose to go with “Moonlit” by RIVALS. RIVALS is a dark pop-rock band from Los Angeles. The band was formed by vocalist Kalie Wolfe, guitarist Micket Woodle, bassist Sebastian Chamberlain, and drummer Josh Alves.
RIVALS released their debut album in 2018 called Damned Soul. “Moonlit” is the fifth track off of this album, and my personal favorite. I first heard the song during some casual, background listening. When I heard the chorus, the music became paramount. I listened more closely to the song and even looped it once or twice. I did not pay attention to the message of the song at first, however. After diving into the lyrics, the song has taken on a new meaning for me. A type of connection that is far deeper than I had anticipated. The song is about a dark place that Wolfe was in and her overcoming herself (“death”). She also says that she is reaching through the darkness and asks if there is anybody out there. This cry for help comes after Wolfe states that she is against some people in her life as well as her own thoughts.
“Moonlit” represents the darkness that may be surrounding, but knowing that there is a little light within that darkness is the sliver of hope that some of us need.
