THE WARNING: BORN TO ROCK
The three sisters from Monterey
turned a viral moment into
a global rock ascent—now they’re louder,
bolder, and just getting started.
Words by Ali Shutler
Captured by Simon Emmett
“Rock and roll music is the genre of freedom,” says singer and guitarist Dany Villarreal. Her band, The Warning, is living proof of that.
See, when The Warning first started out, the three sisters (Dany, drummer Paulina and bassist Alejandra) were told that a young, all-girl Mexican rock band weren’t going to achieve anything.
But, embracing the genre’s rebellious nature, they put their heads down and set about proving the naysayers wrong. With a fiery blend of arena-sized riffs and smart songwriting that makes the deeply personal feel universal, they’ve supported Muse, The Killers and Evanescence.
Last year, they released a concert film of their own three-night homecoming residency at Mexico City’s 10,000-capacity Auditorio Nacional. Their fifth album is out later this year and tonight, they’re trying out three of their new rock bangers while opening up for Yungblud as his Idols World Tour touches down in Glasgow. Scuzzy, slick and full of heart, they already sound like future classics.
The three sisters grew up on stadium rock staples such as Elton John, Queen, Billy Joel and AC/DC thanks to their parents’ impressive music collection, but they really got invested in guitar music with the Rock Band video game. After nailing playthroughs of ‘Eye Of The Tiger’ and being introduced to the new wave of boisterous ‘00s bands, they switched from plastic instruments to real ones.
Too young to get involved with the buzzy local scene of their Monterrey hometown, they spent their evenings practicing at home instead and occasionally sharing a cover on their YouTube channel.
“We weren’t trying to kickstart our careers or anything, they were just a bit of fun,” says Dany.
That didn’t stop their scrappy, Metallica-approved take on ‘Enter Sandman’ from blowing up across social media.
With the encouragement of their parents, The Warning decided to use the unintended spotlight to make their dreams come true. It wasn’t long before they were playing iconic venues around the world.
Despite that viral moment, The Warning built a global fanbase through their electric live show. “It’s a sacred ritual being able to share energy and emotions with people who are right in front of you,” says Dany. “Our natural habitat is onstage.”
12 years later, they’ve ticked off their bucket list several times over but aren’t interested in slowing down. “Because we’re doing it every day, it can be easy to lose that sense of wonder, but we constantly remind each other what a blessing and privilege it is to play our music all around the world,” says Paulina. “The more we achieve, the more we’re excited about what’s next,” adds Dany.
The Warning have never forgotten where they’ve come from, though. Dany, Paulina and Alejandra still call Mexico home, and since 2019’s standalone single ‘Narcisista’, they’ve included one Spanish-language song on each of their albums. “We’re proud of our culture,” says Dany. “Seeing those songs connect with people around the world fills our hearts with so much joy.”
Earlier this year, they were invited by the NFL to attend the Super Bowl, where they saw Bad Bunny’s fearless Halftime show. “It was so beautiful, I cried,” admits Paulina. “He delivered such an important message of hope and unity, but it was also really fun.
“There’s just something about Latin American culture where we’ve learned to find warmth and joy in the darkest situations. To see that on that scale was so uplifting.”
“Language can separate us, but music, regardless of the genre, encourages you to come together,” adds Dany. It’s something they’re seeing every night on the Idols World Tour with an audience that spans multiple generations. “Rock has always been so good at uniting people. To be part of this new wave feels like such an honor,” says Paulina.
Music has also helped The Warning process the incredible journey they’ve been on. Early songs were fantastical storytelling exercises (“We were just kids, we didn’t have anything else to write about”), but each album has become more personal.
“Songwriting is our therapy. It’s a friend that helps us decipher what life is,” says Paulina, with every trip to the studio usually ending with some life-affirming revelation. Their upcoming fifth album looks set to be their most revealing yet. “It feels like the culmination of a lot of years on the road. There are a lot of emotions finally coming out. We really got to know each other and ourselves. Making it felt like such a big step for me as a human being. I can’t wait to share it with people.”
Written and recorded at the end of last year during a deliberate pause in touring, the new record also sees The Warning pushing their own musical boundaries. “We really gave ourselves the liberty to explore,” grins Dany. After making music together for over a decade, the trio are comfortable with what The Warning has become. “There was just this confidence in knowing that whatever we do will be an expression of rock and roll.”
Don’t worry though, the band aren’t abandoning electric guitars. “If you’re carrying something that is dragging you down, if you’re super happy and want to celebrate, rock music is just the perfect way to let go of everything,” says Dany. “It’s a genre that’s full of emotion and being able to embrace that always feels so powerful.”
That fearless self-belief is something they want to encourage in their fans. “I would love for people to feel confident in who they are after seeing us live or listening to our music,” she continues. “I want them to feel the freedom to be themselves.”
