Meet Paulina Villarreal, The Warning’s powerhouse drummer and vocalist, whose thunderous beats and soaring voice redefine modern rock’s intensity and passion.
Paulina Villarreal: The Warning’s Rhythmic Force and Soaring Vocal Talent
In the electrifying realm of modern rock, few drummers command attention like Paulina ‘Pau’ Villarreal of The Warning. As the band’s dynamic heartbeat and powerful vocalist, she elevates every performance into a high-octane experience. From the explosive energy of her drumming to the emotion-packed heights of her vocals, Pau exemplifies what it means to innovate, inspire, and redefine boundaries in rock music. Whether on stage or in the studio, her talent and passion are a force of nature.
Paulina Villarreal: Quick Facts
| Full name | Paulina Villarreal Vélez |
| Known as | Pau |
| Born | February 5, 2002, per the band’s own website at the time |
| Role | Drums, lead and backing vocals, piano |
| Band | The Warning, the rock trio she plays in with her sisters |
| Sisters | The middle of three: Dany (lead vocals, guitar) is older, Ale (bass) is younger |
| Hometown | Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico |
| Awards | Modern Drummer Readers Poll “Up and Coming” (2023); Drumeo Rock Drummer Of The Year (2023 awards); Modern Drummer Best Rock Drummer (2025, as reported by Milenio and Infobae) |
| Magazine cover | Modern Drummer, April 2026 |
| Cymbals | Sabian, per the band’s former website |
Updated November 1, 2026: new sections on her awards, cymbals, songwriting, singing and her 2026, plus a FAQ.
The Making of a Drum Warrior
Born on February 5, 2002, in Monterrey, Mexico, Pau’s musical journey began with classical piano—but fate had a louder, more ferocious instrument waiting. By age six, she was hooked on the drums, inspired by legends like Rush’s Neil Peart. When Pau and her sisters, Daniela and Alejandra, formed The Warning in 2013, their family bond forged a new kind of rock chemistry. A viral cover of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” propelled them onto the global stage, catching Kirk Hammett’s attention and landing them on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, as well as at the doors of Berklee College of Music. This rocket-launch origin story proved that raw talent, grit, and a fearless spirit can smash through any barrier—age, gender, or geography.
Pau Villarreal’s Awards: Modern Drummer and Drumeo
Her first appearance in Modern Drummer was a win. On September 26, 2023, the magazine announced that its readers had voted her the winner of the “Up and Coming” category in the 2023 Readers Poll, ahead of Daniel Fang, Savanah Harris, Garrett P. Tyler and Mark Whitfield Jr. The magazine pointed to her drum parts on the 2022 album Error and to a year of shows that included opening for Guns N’ Roses and Muse.
A few months later, Drumeo, the online drum-lesson company, named her Rock Drummer Of The Year in the 2023 Drumeo Awards, whose winners it published on January 26, 2024. Its citation mentions the band playing the VMAs, supporting Muse and Guns N’ Roses on tour and headlining at home in Mexico. Some outlets date this award 2024; Drumeo’s own page files it under 2023.
In the 2024 Readers Poll, Modern Drummer listed her among the runners-up in the rock category, which Chad Smith won. In December 2025, Milenio and Infobae reported that readers had voted her Best Rock Drummer in the 2025 Readers Poll. Milenio named Matt Cameron, Abe Cunningham, Ilan Rubin and Joey Waronker in the same category. Modern Drummer’s own 2025 results are for subscribers only, so we credit that result to those two outlets.
The April 2026 Cover
Modern Drummer put her on the cover of its April 2026 issue. The public introduction to the cover story lists her as “drums, vocals, piano” and says she “is also a skilled songwriter, singer, and pianist.”
The Technical Titan Behind the Kit
Pau’s setup reads like a dream list for any gearhead: a DW Performance Series kit anchored by a coveted Ludwig Black Beauty snare, framed by Sabian HHX cymbals that shimmer with every strike. Beyond the instruments themselves, Pau’s genius lies in her ability to integrate technology—Roland MIDI pedals, Ableton software—to orchestrate The Warning’s high-octane live shows. She’s not just the drummer; she’s the band’s rhythmic architect, controlling the pulse of the performance and even syncing stage visuals, all while keeping the crowd enthralled.
What truly sets Pau apart is her jaw-dropping duality as both drummer and vocalist. This rare combination of relentless percussion and soaring vocals lends The Warning an edge that’s as raw and dynamic as the rock genre itself. To witness her perform is to watch precision meet passion, fueling a sound that’s unmistakably The Warning.
Her Cymbals and In-Ears: What a Source Confirms
Of the gear named above, the cymbals are the part we could confirm. The band’s own website, on its equipment page (archived in December 2023), said Pau started on budget Sabian cymbals at ten and had since moved up to Sabian’s AAX and HHX series, with the 18-inch HHX Evolution O-Zone Crash as her favorite. Sabian was also among the sponsors listed on that site. The same page said all three sisters used custom in-ear monitors made to fit their ears by InEarz Audio.
We have not found a drum maker’s artist page or a named interview that lists her current kit, snare, heads or sticks, so this page does not name them. If a maker or the band publishes one, we will add it here.
A Vision Beyond the Drum Throne
Paulina’s artistry doesn’t end when the music stops. In 2024, she directed the official music video for “Qué Más Quieres,” adding another dimension to her creative arsenal. It’s no surprise that the Decididas Global Award honored her as a beacon of inspiration, celebrating her role in empowering young women—especially those ready to break into rock’s traditionally male-dominated arena.
Offstage, Pau’s interests run as deep as her grooves. From finance to fantasy literature, anime, and manga, she channels her eclectic passions straight into her music. These influences color The Warning’s sound, giving the band a storytelling edge that resonates with fans across the globe.
Songwriting Credits
Pau is a credited writer across the band’s recent catalog. All twelve songs on Everything’s Falling (2026) credit her, Dany, Ale and producer Anton DeLost, as our album guide lists from the Tidal credits. The Latin Recording Academy credits “Ego” to Anton Curtis Delost, Niko Rubio, Mónica Vélez Domínguez and The Warning, and Tidal’s album credits name her among its six writers. Outside the band’s own records, Apple Music credits her as a co-writer on Maggie Lindemann’s “let me burn” (2025), PNAU’s “Tu Corazón (Your Heart)” and “Love To Be Loved” with Carín León (both 2026). Our collaborations guide has the full credits.
Of “Perfect Daughter,” she told SPIN in August 2026 that “the song is about turning from a girl to a woman, and seeing the things that you didn’t know before.” Of “Ego”: “I think ‘Ego’ is the first time we have allowed ourselves to be angry in Spanish.” In 2024, when the band announced Keep Me Fed, she described “Qué Más Quieres” in one line: “It’s about taunting and manipulating.”
Directing the “Qué Más Quieres” Video
The official video for “Qué Más Quieres,” released in April 2024, credits the direction to Paulina Villarreal and Iban Chabes. The credits also give her the original idea and a shared script credit with Chabes. She told Atwood Magazine that “Charlie’s Angels was a big inspiration for the comedic undertone,” and added: “I loved directing, I hope I get to do it again sometime.” The song earned the band its first Latin Grammy nomination, for Best Rock Song in 2024.
The Vocal Powerhouse
While Pau’s drumming alone could carry any band, The Warning thrives on her equally electrifying vocals. Trading lead vocal duties with Daniela, she infuses the group’s songs with a visceral energy that fans feel in their bones. Live, this dual role leaves audiences spellbound, marveling at how one musician can command two instruments—voice and drum kit—so fiercely and fearlessly.
What Pau Sings
Dany is the band’s lead singer. The descriptions on the band’s official videos credit Pau with drums and background vocals, and the band’s former website listed her as “Lead and Backing Vocals, Drums, Percussions, Piano.”
Two recordings put her name in the vocal credits beside Dany’s. On “Ego,” Tidal’s album credits list Daniela and Paulina Villarreal as the vocalists. On “Hurt,” the 2024 version with Dead Poet Society, Apple Music credits Dany and Pau with lead and backing vocals, and the band has said that Dead Poet Society invited Pau to perform it with them on stage at Aftershock in October 2024. Our collaborations guide tells the story of “Hurt.”
She plays piano as well: the band’s former website listed piano for all three sisters, and Modern Drummer calls her a pianist. Her drumming goes back a long way on the band’s own channel. The 2014 “Enter Sandman” video lists her on drums at 12, and our guide to The Warning’s songs starts there.
Forging Bonds with Warning Nation
At the heart of Pau’s impact lies a strong, genuine connection with Warning Nation—their ever-growing community of fans. Her warmth, humor, and authenticity shine through in every interaction, making fans feel like family. Young female drummers, in particular, see Pau as living proof that rock stardom knows no gender and no limits. Her story blasts apart outdated stereotypes, leaving room for a future where anyone can pick up the sticks and rock the world.
The Sister Sync: A Family of Sound
The synergy between Pau, Daniela, and Alejandra is as tight as the band’s riffs. Their nearly telepathic communication on stage turns every performance into something greater than the sum of its parts. As the rhythmic anchor, Pau’s steady pulse drives their sound, ensuring every track hits with a shockwave of intensity. The result? A signature style that’s fearless, cohesive, and utterly unmistakable.
Key Elements of Pau’s Impact:
- Revolutionary Drummer/Vocalist Fusion: Shattering rock norms, playing drums and singing with equal prowess.
- Technical Innovation: Integrating cutting-edge gear and software to forge unforgettable live shows.
- Creative Expansion: Venturing into music video direction, broadening her artistic horizons.
- Inspiring Role Model: Encouraging women and young musicians worldwide to chase their dreams.
- Foundational Force: Anchoring The Warning’s sound and sisterly unity.
Where the Rhythm Leads Next
As The Warning marches forward, Paulina Villarreal stands tall as a force of nature—uncontained, unstoppable, and unapologetically original. Her evolution from a young dreamer in Monterrey to a global rock ambassador proves that music’s might lies in passion, innovation, and an unshakable belief in one’s art.
So, crank up the volume, Warning Nation, and prepare for what’s next. With Pau behind the kit, the future of rock is louder, stronger, and more fearless than ever.
Pau Villarreal in 2026
The Warning’s fifth studio album, Everything’s Falling, came out on August 28, 2026, on Lava Records and Republic Records. “Kerosene” reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart dated September 5, 2026, and on the charts dated September 12 the album debuted at No. 17 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on Top Hard Rock Albums. Our track-by-track guide to Everything’s Falling has the details.
“Ego” won Best Rock Song at the 27th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards on Thursday, November 12, 2026, in Las Vegas: the band’s first Latin Grammy, on their second nomination in that category. Best Rock Song is a songwriting award; the Academy credits The Warning as writers alongside Delost, Rubio and Vélez Domínguez, and Tidal names Pau among the song’s six writers. See our Latin Grammy article.
Two days later, on Saturday, November 14, 2026, Pau was a guest of Garbage at their free concert in the Zócalo, Mexico City’s main square. The Secretaría de Cultura de la Ciudad de México highlights her “participación especial” in “I Think I’m Paranoid” in the description of its video of the night, and Milenio’s live coverage reports that Shirley Manson introduced her and that the two shared the microphone. More in our collaborations guide.
Two Mexico City dates come next. On Sunday, November 22, 2026, the band plays the halftime show at the NFL Mexico City game, Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers at Estadio Banorte. On Friday, February 5, 2027, they headline Estadio GNP Seguros, their first stadium headline show and the opening night of a 36-date world tour through Europe, the UK and North America. Every date is in The Warning Tour 2027.
Paulina Villarreal FAQ
How old is Paulina Villarreal?
She was born on February 5, 2002, according to the band’s own website at the time (archived profiles page). That makes her 24 as of November 2026; she turns 25 in February 2027.
Who is the drummer of The Warning?
Paulina “Pau” Villarreal, the middle of the three Villarreal sisters. Dany plays guitar and sings lead, and Ale plays bass. Read our profiles of Dany Villarreal and Ale Villarreal.
Is Pau the lead singer of The Warning?
No. Dany is the lead singer. Pau sings backing vocals and shares the vocal credit with Dany on some songs, such as “Ego” and “Hurt.”
Where is Pau Villarreal from?
Monterrey, in the northern Mexican state of Nuevo León, the band’s hometown. “We were born and raised in Mexico,” she told SPIN in 2026. “We still live in Mexico.”
Sources and updates, November 1, 2026: birth date and instruments from the band’s former website (archived); awards from Modern Drummer, Drumeo, Milenio and Infobae; cymbals from the band’s former equipment page; songwriting and vocal credits from Tidal, Apple Music and the Latin Recording Academy; video credits from the official YouTube description; quotes from SPIN, Atwood Magazine and Universal Music Canada. The earlier sections of this profile date from 2024 and early 2025.
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