It’s hard enough being in a rock band with one sibling (just ask Oasis), but The Warning have found a way to make it work when the core of the band all have the same parents. The Villarreal Vélez sisters have been rocking stages around the world (in both English and Spanish) since 2013, and it often seems like they’re only just now hitting their stride.
Having just released their fourth album, Keep Me Fed, in June, the Mexican trio of guitarist Dany, drummer Paulina and bassist Alejandra reached the point in their career where they’re not afraid to try out new sounds and expand outside of their comfort zone. It’s a massive and wide-ranging album that proves just how strong guitar-led rock music still is with Gen Z.
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Pushed further into the mainstream with Keep Me Fed’s lead single, “SICK,” the Warning are spending their 2024 (and beyond) on the road, hitting everything from major festivals to full headlining tours. SPIN caught up with Dany during a break in the busy touring schedule to chat about her favorite guitars, the new album, and playing an insane amount of shows.
SPIN: What has your relationship with PRS been like?
Dany Villarreal: Well, I discovered PRS guitars during the pandemic while working on our third album, with the band, Error. David Bendeth was the producer for that record, and he personally recommended them to me. When I first got a PRS guitar, it was insane how comfortable I felt with it. One of the most important things for me about having a guitar is that it feels like an extension of my body and that I can trust it and just do my thing. Ever since I tried that first PRS guitar, it’s been an inseparable relationship.
You used the PRS Custom 24-08 for a while, but you just got the PRS S2 Custom 24-08. What’s the new version like?
I love the difference. The Custom 24-08 has that split-coil effect, where you have a lot of different ways to experiment with it. The S2 is just such a powerful thing live. It just has that power that I want on stage. Since I’m the only guitar player on stage with my band, it’s so important for me to be that wall of guitar sounds.
What’s that like to be the only guitar on stage for a hard rock band like The Warning?
It’s completely insane, especially since I really like to play a lot of the lead things that we did on the album. So even though I have to be rhythmically present, I try to sneak in as much as lead guitar as I can. I recorded all of the guitars on the album, but we only have a few guitar parts on the backing track when we play live, and they’re just so I can properly play lead guitar on top of that. It’s a challenge, especially when my sisters are so good.
Speaking of which, what’s it been like to grow up in this band with your sisters since you were basically kids?
Playing with my sisters is the best thing that I could have asked for. Growing up in this band together has been absolutely great. We’ve lived so many experiences and gone through a lot together, and that’s really connected us. We’ve been best friends since we were born, but doing this together has gotten us to a new step of togetherness. We just knew it was what we wanted to do from the very beginning.
What was it like going out on tour after putting out Keep Me Fed a couple of months ago?
It was amazing. I couldn’t believe that right after it was out, people already knew the songs and were singing along — even though we were on the other side of the world. We worked so hard and poured our heart and souls into this album, so it was amazing to see how it was being so well received. Plus, having new music to play live is always a great feeling. My sisters and I were experimenting like “Let’s go all out and figure out how to play the new songs live.” We challenged ourselves a little bit more in the studio this time around, so it was a very interesting whole journey.
How have you seen the band evolve over the years, particularly with the last couple of albums?
It’s great to look back and see the growth that we’ve had, especially since we started as kids. This is the first of our albums that I’ve heard and felt like I’m a grownup now. I also let myself try new stuff on it. There’s one song that I played with a slide, which I’ve never done before in my life. I learned to use it in the studio. We also experimented with so many different tunings and with a lot of new riffage instead of just power chords. Overall, I’m so happy with everything that I’ve discovered. I’ve played a lot of different guitars as well, and I just feel like I really know myself better now. My guitar playing is very unique, and it’s something that I’m really grateful to have continuing to grow with me in my life.
Having played so many different guitars over the years, what made you stick with PRS?
First of all, I was so surprised and taken aback by the sustain. It has such a beautiful sustain, which I really like. The neck also feels so comfortable, and it’s not that heavy. I have a lot of back problems because I played a very heavy Les Paul growing up while my back had not yet fully grown. The PRS is also a lot more malleable and versatile for what I need, which helped me fall in love with it completely. We’re also a band that tours a lot, so it’s been reassuring to feel like I can count on PRS when we go through different temperatures. We seem to always go to Canada in the winter for some reason, but my guitars stay as steady and perfect as they are in any other weather.
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