A dazzling, comprehensive celebration of joy, queerness, and personal growth, The Aces’ ‘Gold Star Baby’ sees the Utah-based quartet embracing liberation with bold disco flair. In this extensive feature for Atwood Magazine, the band discusses independence, identity, and the creation of an album that transforms self-confidence into vibrant, shared happiness.
Stream: “Gold Star Baby” – The Aces
– McKenna Petty, The Aces
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With dazzling lights, shimmering disco balls, and bodies swaying in rhythm: Welcome to Gold Star Baby, the trendiest nightspot in every location – if you know, you know.
This neon-lit celebration sparkles with catchy hooks, lush bass lines, and liberating disco beats. The Aces’ fourth studio album is a seductive fiesta that opens the doors to a spectacular celebration, inviting listeners to join them in dancing the night away to their sensual, dazzling disco-pop tracks. It's electrifyingly uplifting, empowering, and immersive – a glittering tribute to confidence, queerness, and community that radiates heat and passion. Just as timeless as it is transcendent, Gold Star Baby represents not just an escape but an arrival: A vibrant soundtrack for stepping into your true self, feeling invincible, and celebrating your life.
Gold Star Baby – The Aces
I know where to go
Follow the rainbow
Every flavor you can come and taste ’em
When you come with me
I think you’ll agree
That you’ll never wanna go back, baby
Don’t know what to do
Don’t stress, I got you
I’m an expert in the field, I’m major
Say you’ve never tried
I say that I don’t mind
And you can thank me later
Do you like shiny things?
Think you know what I mean
Yeah, I’m a gold star baby
Oh, I’m so unique
You wanna learn some things?
I do it differently
You get a gold star, baby
When you’re good for me
– “Gold Star Baby,” The Aces
If 2023’s I’ve Loved You For So Long marked The Aces’ reckoning, then Gold Star Baby symbolizes their liberation. While their deeply personal third album explored themes of queerness, anxiety, and youth through the lens of home and healing, its sequel bursts forth with glamour, groove, and grit. Released on August 15, 2025 via SoundOn, Gold Star Baby radiates liberation – a vibrant, bass-driven exhalation that shifts the focus from self-analysis to self-celebration. This time, The Aces are not just surviving; they are flourishing, reveling in full color as they dance through the afterglow of their experiences and lessons learned.
Longtime favorites at Atwood Magazine and three-time editor’s picks, The Aces have cultivated a reputation based on truthfulness, vibrancy, and undeniable chemistry. The band consists of sisters Cristal and Alisa Ramirez (lead vocals/guitar and drums), guitarist Katie Henderson, and bassist McKenna Petty. Over the past decade, they have redefined the essence of modern pop-rock: vibrant, inclusive, self-confident, and absolutely alive. Renowned for their compelling mix of infectious hooks, emotional honesty, and dynamic energy, The Aces have evolved from local favorites in Provo into a powerful voice in indie-pop, celebrated for their strong camaraderie and commanding live performances. With over 250 million career streams and appearances at major festivals such as Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Firefly, and OUTFEST, The Aces consistently demonstrate their authenticity, camaraderie, and fearless self-expression.
This sense of freedom and boldness reaches its peak on Gold Star Baby – a self-made, self-assured celebration of love, independence, and vibrant living. After navigating the complexities of major-label timelines, personal upheavals, and the emotional weight of their most intimate album to date, Gold Star Baby emerges as a declaration of pure freedom. Mostly written and produced independently, this is their first fully autonomous release – and that independence shines through each note. It's evident in the bass lines that strut, the glittering disco rhythms, and the uncontained joy that underlies it all. It’s the sound of a band not only discovering themselves but also reveling in the joy of already knowing who they are.
“This album really felt to me like we wanted to create a celebration album – to honor how far we’ve come from those four kids in Orem, Utah, and to embrace who we truly are as adults now,” reflects Cristal Ramirez. “I remember talking to Alisa on the phone and saying, ‘Let’s do something fun. We have to celebrate. We have to shake it off.’ I feel like our fans look to us for hope – and we also look to our band for hope. That felt like
A sparkling, complete celebration of happiness, queerness, and self-discovery, The Aces’ ‘Gold Star Baby’ showcases the Utah-based group moving through liberation with bold disco style. In this extensive feature from Atwood Magazine, the band discusses themes of independence, identity, and the process of crafting an album that transforms self-assurance into collective joy.