Chartbreaker is Billboard's monthly series spotlighting an artist making their introduction to the charts.
Four red-state young women DIY’d their way to pop status with breakthrough track "Stuck." Here's how.
Hometown advantage
Ramirez sisters Cristal (vocals) and Alisa (drums) started The Aces as preteens in Provo, Utah, recruiting childhood friends McKenna Petty (bass) and Katie Henderson (guitar). Alcohol-free venues in their conservative town enabled the foursome, now all 21 except Alisa (19), to score gigs in high school: “It was a unique city that shaped us as musicians,” says Petty. “It’s such a monumental part of our band’s story.”