Paulina Villarreal
Paulina Villarreal Vélez | |
|---|---|
 Paulina Villarreal in 2023. | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Pau |
| Born | February 5, 2002 Monterrey, Mexico |
| Genres | Rock, heavy metal |
| Occupation(s) | Drummer, songwriter, singer |
| Instrument(s) | Drums, vocals, piano |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Member of | The Warning |
Paulina "Pau" Villarreal Vélez (born 5 February 2002) is a Mexican musician. She is the drummer, singer, pianist and songwriter for the band The Warning.[1]
Life and career
Villarreal was born in Monterrey, Mexico. She went to a bilingual high school (Liceo de Monterrey Redwood) making her fluent in English.[citation needed]
From her early childhood she was taught classical piano and since the age of 6, also drums. Her parents' passion and playing the video game Rock Band led her to rock music. Her father uploaded multiple videos to YouTube where she's playing drum covers for well-known pop/rock hits.[2][3]
Neil Peart was the biggest influence for her drumming style.[4]
At the end of 2012 Paulina Villarreal formed her band, The Warning, with her sisters Daniela and Alejandra. In this band she trades off lead vocal duties with guitarist Daniela. In 2014 Kirk Hammett of Metallica saw a videos of her and her sisters playing a cover of Metallica's "Enter Sandman" and Hammet praised Paulina's drumming in a tweet.[5]
In 2015, after the Enter Sandman video went viral, Villarreal and her sisters were invited to The Ellen Show as musical guests. Ellen DeGeneres supported them with a financial donation that helped to get a scholarship to attend Berkelee College of Music's five week program[6] - with an age waiver because the required entry age level for this program was 14 years.
By that time Paulina Villarreal was already writing her own lyrics and music. The band's first EP was recorded and released in 2015.[7]
In April 2022 Villarreal was invited to teach a Drum and composition masterclass at the Sound:Check Xpo event, in Mexico.[8]
In 2024 Villarreal debuted as artistic director by creating official video clip of the song "Qué Más Quieres".[9]
Equipment
Villarreal plays DW Performance Series drums. Her snare model is a Ludwig Black Beauty. The DW rack used by Villarreal has been custom modified for her smaller body size.[10]
She is officially sponsored by Sabian,[11] currently uses the HHX series cymbals.
She also uses Roland Midi Pedals and a laptop computer with Ableton software to control the timing of the band's live show, additional instrumentation, and the visuals appearing on the screen behind the band. In some songs Villarreal also uses a cowbell.[10]
Awards
In September 2023, Villarreal was voted #1 by readers of Modern Drummer in the “Up and Coming” category.[12]
Drumeo presented her the Rock Drummer of the Year award in February 2024.[13]
In March 2024 she received the Decididas Global Award at the 2024 Decididas Summit, for “transcending borders and inspire us to dream BIG.” She was honored for her contribution to the Mexican music industry and society, and for standing out as an exemplary leader who seeks to inspire more young women to pursue their dreams. Upon receiving the award Villarreal said: "When they told me about this recognition, the first thing I felt was insecurity and intimidation, doctors, astronauts and engineers came here, and I said 'I'm a drummer', but my mother explained to me that what I do has an impact on the lives of others."[14][15]
Personal information
She is the middle of the three Villarreal sisters of Mexican rock band The Warning.
Villareal mentioned in interviews that she's interested in finances and she is planning to study this field.[15]
References
- ^ "The Warning homepage". Archived from the original on March 2, 2021.
- ^ "Mayday in the Making Episode 2". YouTube. Lava Records.
- ^ "Mayday in the Making Episode 4". YouTube. Lava Records.
- ^ Dowdell, Michael (2019-02-11). "You've Been Warned: How The Warning went from video game players to Rock Band musicians". Guitar Girl Magazine. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
- ^ Kennelty, Greg (April 14, 2015). "These 3 Young Mexican Sisters' Awesome METALLICA Cover is Kirk Hammett-Approved!". Metal Injection.
- ^ Keefe-Feldman, Mike (August 14, 2015). "School's in for Summer: Metalhead Sisters the Warning Hone Chops at Berklee". berklee.edu.
- ^ Sweeney, Chris (16 April 2015). "'The Warning' Hits GoFundMe Goal, Drops EP in Same Week". Boston Magazine.
- ^ "Historia - sound:check Xpo". soundcheckexpo.com.mx. December 18, 2020.
- ^ Villamil, Valentina (25 April 2024). "The Warning ejecuta un crimen perfecto en el nuevo video de 'Qué Más Quieres'". Rolling Stone (en Espanol).
- ^ a b "The Warning's Paulina Villarreal Vélez - GEAR MASTERS Ep. 475". YouTube. Digital Tour Bus.
- ^ "ARTISTS / DRUMSET". Sabian homepage.
- ^ "Readers Poll 2023: Paulina "Pau" Villarreal Vélez Wins "Up And Coming"". Modern Drummer. 26 September 2023.
- ^ "The Winners Of The 2023 Drumeo Awards". Drumeo. February 1, 2024.
- ^ "Decididas Summit 2024 - Programa" (PDF). decididas.com. 2024.
- ^ a b Toriz, Miguel Angelino (10 March 2024). "Paulina Villarreal (The Warning): "Si el profesor te lanza una silla, ahí no es"". Playboy Mexico.
 | This article needs additional or more specific categories. (May 2024) |