Dany Villarreal is the lead guitarist and co-founder of the powerhouse Mexican rock trio The Warning. Known for her commanding stage presence, razor-sharp riffs, and dynamic versatility, Dany has become one of the most exciting young guitarists in modern rock. Alongside her sisters, Paulina (drums) and Alejandra (bass), she helped form The Warning in Monterrey, Mexico, gaining international attention with their viral cover of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.” That clip has since racked up well over twenty-three million views on YouTube.

Since then, Dany has carved out her identity as a fearless player and songwriter, blending technical precision with raw energy. With influences ranging from classic metal and progressive rock to modern hard rock, her style pushes boundaries while staying rooted in the emotional storytelling that defines The Warning’s sound. Dany has shared stages with rock legends, toured globally, and earned acclaim for her role in redefining what a new generation of rock guitarists can be.

PRS: Congrats on the release of Live from Auditorio Nacional, CDMX! Was a concert film a project the band has always aspired to, or an opportunity that presented itself?

Dany: Thank you so much! The opportunity just presented itself actually. We just wanted to remember such a special night and such an important step in our careers, so when we contemplated recording everything, we thought, why don’t we go all out and record this reallllly well? When we and our team pitched the idea of it being recorded for film, we were surprised to find out that everyone loved the idea. We sort of manifested it into existence while planning out the show — craaazy! It was such an incredible night, so incredible that I had to have a special PRS with me. I played with my very first-ever PRS guitar, with the 40th Anniversary Pearl PRS, and with a Lotus Bloom Private Stock PRS gifted to me by Orianthi herself. That is an insane lineup, perfect for such an important show :’) Remembering makes me happy — and now it lives forever in film!

PRS: What first drew you to PRS guitars, and how did you know they were the right fit for your sound and style?

Dany: I started playing guitar at a very young age, so of course I wasn’t very knowledgeable at first — I really just wanted to play and play and play. But as I got older, I started to notice the difference in sound with different guitars, pedals, and amps. Honestly, I was lost — there were a LOT of options. As a band, we were still figuring out what our sound was, so I decided to explore… I called it my dating phase JAJAJAJA. I changed pedalboards like three times and played with different guitars. At that time, we were also recording our album ERROR with David Bendeth, so of course we got to chatting about guitars. He asked me, “Have you tried playing a PRS guitar?” I said no. And he goes, “I have a feeling you are going to love them.” He was right. It was just what I needed, and as the only guitar player in the band, I was so in love with how my PRS guitar took up a lot of space sonically. It did wonders for our three-piece band.

PRS: Can you tell us about your very first PRS—what model was it and what did that moment mean to you?

Dany: Yes! My first PRS was a Custom 24-08 in the color Fire Smokeburst. I remember the moment I got it so well because it was mid-pandemic and I had lots of time to spend with it. Mind you, this was the very first time I ever held a PRS guitar and I was sold almost immediately. My hand just flowed; I had never been more comfortable with a guitar. I just felt powerful and confident — and that’s a feeling that once you find, you don’t want to let go of.

PRS: When it comes to your touring rig, are you a “keep it simple” player or do you fall into the “more the merrier” camp? How do your PRS guitars play into this?

Dany: My touring rig definitely falls in the “keep it simple” category. I program all my sounds on my Kemper profiler and send it directly to FOH. I still have an amp on stage because I LOVE to feel the guitar onstage. On the other hand, I am “more the merrier” when it comes to guitars! I used to travel with only two guitars everywhere, so traveling with seven guitars now feels insane — but I love it, and my main guitars are PRS.

PRS: Is the band currently working on any new music in the studio? We would love to hear a follow-up to 2024’s Keep Me Fed.

Dany: We are, actually! We’re creating the next album as we speak, and we’re super excited for what’s to come. We’re in the process of figuring out what our next era is going to sound like and, unlike Keep Me Fed, we’re taking a break from touring to focus specifically on writing this time around.

PRS: Fans often connect with the gear their favorite artists use—what advice would you give a young guitarist considering their first PRS?

Dany: DO IT! You will not regret it. First of all, I think getting to know different guitars is important to discover who you are as a guitar player, and I think PRS should 100% be on that list. Trust me, you won’t want to leave them out. And once you try them out, I hope you find a best friend in a PRS — just like I did. So go get it!

Watch Dany Perform at the PRS 40th Anniversary Celebration:

Connect With Dany:

@dany.thewarning

Photo Credit: Zeus Lopéz