Netflix Documentary on The Warning Sisters: Fortaleza

Fortaleza: The Warning Sisters

The Netflix original documentary titled Fortaleza: The Warning Sisters chronicles the rise of The Warning, a power trio formed by Daniela, Paulina, and Alejandra Villarreal Vélez in Monterrey, Mexico in 2013.

Its premiere on Netflix marks the first time the sisters’ journey from viral internet sensations to international rock stars is captured in such depth.

Fortaleza opens with childhood home videos and interviews with the Villarreal Vélez parents, showcasing how early piano lessons and family jam sessions on the video game Rock Band laid the foundation for their musical bond

The documentary highlights their 2014 breakthrough cover of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman,” which went viral and earned more than 26 million views online, propelling them into the global spotlight.

Following their viral success, the sisters turned to crowdfunding through GoFundMe to record their debut EP, Escape the Mind, released in 2015, demonstrating both their DIY ethos and fan-driven momentum.

Fortaleza also features rare TEDx performances at the University of Nevada in 2016 and 2017, illustrating how their articulate stage presence and musical prowess resonated beyond conventional rock circuits.

The band’s anthem “More” dropped as a single via Lava and Republic Records in early 2024, signaling the bold sonic direction of their forthcoming album
The documentary then traces the sisters’ evolution through the release of four studio albums, culminating in 2024’s Keep Me Fed, which debuted to critical acclaim.

The final act immerses viewers in The Warning’s 2025 United States headline and support tour with Halsey, featuring electrifying concert footage and fan reactions in major venues from Los Angeles to New York City.

With its blend of intimate storytelling, high-octane performances, and authentic interviews, Fortaleza: The Warning Sisters stands as a testament to the transformative power of sibling solidarity and the universal language of rock music.
Featuring exclusive backstage interviews drawn from MTV Push sessions, the film offers unprecedented access to the creative process behind Keep Me Fed’s anthems like “More,” revealing the sisters’ collaborative songwriting and relentless touring schedule.

Fortaleza concludes with a reflection on the sisters’ journey—from video game jam sessions to global rock stages—inviting viewers to witness how three young women from Monterrey reshaped the landscape of modern hard rock

Five Unique Ways The Warning Sisters Distinguish Themselves from Historical Family Bands

The Warning, the Villarreal Vélez sisters from Monterrey, Mexico—Daniela (guitar, vocals, piano), Paulina (drums, vocals, piano), and Alejandra (bass, backing vocals, piano)—have forged a path in rock unlike any prior family ensemble. Their story is shaped by early classical foundations, video-game-inspired beginnings, crowdfunding independence, bilingual artistry, and digital-savvy viral breakthroughs. Each of these dimensions sets them apart from household names like the Jackson 5, the Osmonds, or Hanson, who followed more traditional artist-development trajectories.

1. From Classical Piano to Hard-Rock Prodigies via Video Games

Long before they picked up electric guitars and drumsticks, all three sisters studied classical piano in their family home, thanks to their parents’ unwavering support(Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre). Their father, an audio engineer, and their mother financed theory lessons and hosted living-room concert nights, instilling in them both musicality and showmanship(Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre). Unlike earlier family acts—often formed by parents seeking to market their children—the Warning sisters’ pivot to rock was sparked organically by the video game Rock Band, which ignited their passion for harder styles and led them to master new instruments in a playful yet intensely focused environment(Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre).

2. Multi-Instrumental Mastery from the Earliest Ages

Most family bands feature a primary vocalist or instrumentalist, with others filling supportive roles. The Warning, however, each command multiple instruments: Daniela began guitar at eight, Paulina overcame age-and-stature barriers to study drums at six, and Alejandra transitioned from attempting harp to anchoring the band on bass—all while maintaining their piano skills(Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre). This early diversification means their compositions and performances are crafted from within, rather than delegated to session musicians, distinguishing them from predecessors like the Bee Gees or Wilson Phillips, who relied heavily on external writing and production teams.

3. Independent, Crowdfunded Origins in a Label-Driven Era

Whereas iconic sibling bands of the past often signed with major labels as teenagers and recorded covers or label-assigned material, the Warning sisters retained creative control by crowdfunding their debut EP, Escape the Mind, in 2015—raising funds via GoFundMe and Ellen DeGeneres’s generous donation—before ever stepping into a professional studio(The Warning Wiki). They wrote, produced, and released five original tracks under their own banner, demonstrating an entrepreneurial spirit that contrasts sharply with the molded images of acts like the Jackson 5 or the Cowsills.

4. Bilingual Artistry Bridging Markets and Cultures

While family bands historically focused on English-language mainstream markets, the Warning sisters navigate both Spanish- and English-speaking audiences with ease. Though predominantly writing and performing in English to reach global rock fans, they deliberately include at least one Spanish-language track on each album—most recently “Qué Más Quieres” on Keep Me Fed, which earned a Latin Grammy nomination(Kerrang!). This dual-language strategy not only honors their heritage but also expands their cultural resonance, unlike earlier acts that rarely engaged non-English repertoires.

5. Viral-First Breakthrough via Social Media Covers

Instead of traditional radio play or talent-show exposure, the Warning gained widespread attention in 2014 when their cover of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” went viral on YouTube, showcasing both technical prowess and youthful charisma(Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre). They leveraged this digital footprint to transition rapidly into original songwriting, accumulating millions of views and a devoted online following before releasing a full-length album(The Warning Wiki). This contrasts with past family ensembles, whose success was often tied to television appearances or label-funded promotions rather than grassroots internet virality.

Beyond the Five: A Trajectory Still Unfolding

While comparisons to historical sibling groups are inevitable, the Warning sisters continue to redefine what it means to be a family band in the 21st century. Their rigorous classical training, video-game-inspired instrumentalism, independent funding, bilingual releases, and social-media mastery collectively form a playbook for modern musicians. As they headline global tours and star in a Netflix documentary, The Warning not only honor the legacy of family ensembles but also chart an innovative course all their own.

THE WARNING Announces Summer 2025 United States Headline Tour

THE WARNING, a Monterrey, Mexico-based rock sister three, has planned a headlining tour in the United States. The “Keep Me Fed” journey will begin in Milwaukee on July 5 and go to Atlanta, Nashville, New York, and Minneapolis before ending on July 23. Presales begin at 10 a.m. local time on Thursday, March 20, followed by a public onsale on Friday, March 21 at 10 a.m. local.

THE WARNING will open certain events on Halsey’s “For My Last Trick” US tour. See the route below.

THE WARNING’s newest album, “Keep Me Fed,” has received over 155 million worldwide streams, reaching No. 1 on Billboard’s Emerging Artist list and establishing the band as the largest album launch for an all-female rock group in the 2020s.

In 2024, THE WARNING received nominations at the Latin Grammys, VMAs, and EMAs, marking a great year. In addition, their performances on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “The Kelly Clarkson Show” captivated audiences nationwide.

WARNING: Supporting Halsey

May 10 – Toyota Pavilion – Concord, California
May 12 – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, Phoenix, Arizona.
May 14 – Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, California.
May 17 – Dos Equis Pavilion, Dallas, TX.
May 18 – Choctaw Grand Theatre, Durant, OK.
May 19 – Walmart Amphitheatre – Rogers, Arkansas
May 21 – Ascend Amphitheatre – Nashville, Tennessee
May 22 – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre – Alpharetta, Georgia
May 24 – Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa, FL.
May 25 – Hard Rock Live – Hollywood, Florida

THE WARNING: U.S. headlining tour.

July 5 – Summerfest – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
July 6 – The Factory – St. Louis, Missouri
July 8 – Aztec – San Antonio, Texas
July 9 – Warehouse Live – Houston, Texas
July 11 – House of Blues, Orlando, FL.
July 12: The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA (Previously rescheduled*)
July 13 – The Basement East – Nashville, Tennessee (Previously rescheduled*)
July 15: The Ritz – Raleigh, NC
July 16 – The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD.
July 18: Palladium – New York City, NY
July 19: Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA
July 20 – Kemba Live – Columbus, Ohio.
July 22 – Riviera Theatre, Chicago, IL.
July 23 – The Fillmore, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

THE WARNING derives strength from a lifetime of sisterhood and music. The Mexico-born sister trio — Daniela “Dany” (guitar, lead vocals, piano), Paulina “Pau” (drums, vocals, piano), and Alejandra “Ale” Villarreal (bass, piano, backup vocals) — have travelled thousands of miles, created hundreds of millions of streams, and captivated fans. All of this painstaking effort and attention has sculpted and honed their sound with knife-like precision, equipping alternative anthems with universally appealing choruses and an uncompromising hard rock kick. Since they were children in Monterrey, Mexico, the girls have worked together to achieve a common goal. They made waves with indie releases, laying the way for their lauded 2022 full-length album “Error”. The band performed with MUSE, FOO FIGHTERS, GUNS N’ ROSES, ROYAL BLOOD, THE PRETTY RECKLESS, THREE DAYS GRACE, and IMAGINE DRAGONS on MTV’s Extended Play Stage at the 2023 VMAs. Pepsi picked them to be the face of Pepsi Black in Mexico, highlighting their cultural significance. They were featured in Vanity Fair, People, Cosmopolitan, and Glamour, as well as on METALLICA’s “Blacklist” compilation, where their cover of “Enter Sandman” (with Alessia Cara) was featured alongside contributions from GHOST, St. Vincent, Chris Stapleton, IDLES, and WEEZER. THE WARNING released their 2024 full-length album “Keep Me Fed” (Lava/Republic Records), embracing their fate. The album’s hits include “More”, “S!ck”, “Hell You Call A Dream”, “Qué Más Quieres”, “Automatic Sun”, and “Burnout”. In 2024, they maintained their worldwide presence with nominations and performances at the Latin Grammys for “Best Rock Song” and MTV’s EMAs for “Push Artist”. THE WARNING was nominated for “Push Performance” at MTV’s VMAs and featured on France’s “Taratata”.

The Warning: “This is a testament to the influence of music and the connection it establishes with individuals, irrespective of their language”

Following The Warning’s performance at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Manchester in November, the Villarreal Vélez sisters flew to Miami for the Latin GRAMMYs.

“That week, the way we lived it, it was just so crazy,” drummer Pau laughs now.

“Very chaotic,” explains bassist Ale.

“It was a lot,” says lead vocalist and guitarist Dany.

They were nominated for Best Push at the EMAs, which honours breakthrough acts. The band performed Automatic Sun, from their fourth album Keep Me Fed, drenched in crimson light and interrupted by bursts of fire.

Speaking to Kerrang! from their home base in Monterrey, Mexico, several months after the back-to-back performances, the three sisters are animated, finishing each other’s sentences or giving overlapping answers.

“It was just so hectic and full of adrenaline,” Pau exclaims. “I don’t think we’ll ever forget that whole week.”

At the Latin GRAMMYs, The Warning dressed in metallic clothes and played Qué Más Quieres, which was nominated for Best Rock Song, as strobe lights shone overhead. The band members are natural Spanish speakers who generally write and perform in English. They make it a point to include one Spanish tune on each album, which was nominated on Keep Me Fed.

“We toured a lot in North America, Europe, and even Asia,” Pau says of the previous year’s whirlwind. “But we hadn’t visited South America in a while, not even Mexico. So to be honoured in the Latin American society by our colleagues, particularly our rock’n’roll peers, and to be representing Mexican music, we feel really honoured.”

To call it a hectic period would be an understatement. After releasing Keep Me Fed last summer, The Warning’s popularity skyrocketed, putting them on worldwide platforms such as awards events, TV screens, and even New York’s famed Times Square. It’s especially amazing given that Dany, Pau, and Ale are only 25, 23, and 20 years old, respectively. And, as Pau explains, they’ve travelled so much that they’re familiar with some of their roadside stops.

“Touring North America, we know what it is, we’ve done it for a while,” Pau tells me. “We know our stops, Walmarts, and Targets. “We know where to go.”

“The only thing was the cold in Canada…” Ale adds.

The first phase of the tour included a journey across the United States, including festivals and headline gigs, followed by support positions in Canada with Halestorm and Evanescence, the former of which The Warning had previously played with. “It was just like reuniting with old friends,” Pau tells me.

By the time Kerrang! meets up with the three, they’re reaching the conclusion of a much-needed trip break before the entire machine goes back into gear.

“We’ve been here in Monterrey for a while, and again, we’re about to leave, but I feel that leaving and touring just makes me really appreciate my home, my city,” proclaims Pau.

At home, their celebrity is apparent and, simply, inevitable. It’s warning-mania.

“Every time we leave our house, we get asked for a picture or an autograph,” Pau says. “It’s not jarring, because I know that it’s there. I am aware that this will happen when I go out, yet it still surprises me at times.”

One occasion, the drummer was approached by a fan at a restaurant when she was paying the bill.

“There’s the other part, where you assume people are coming to you because they recognise you and they want to tell you something,” Dany recounts.

“But then they ask, ‘Hey, is your car the grey one that’s parked behind?'” I’m like, “Oh!” “I got ahead of myself,” Pau says, laughing.

The band’s 2024 travels were only the beginning of the Keep Me Fed cycle; this year, they’ll continue to tour extensively across continents.

“We’re super-excited about getting this album to the places that haven’t heard it completely,” Dany tells me.

On the day we meet, they’re just a week away from some very massive home-country gigs, including three nights at Mexico City’s 10,000-person Auditorio Nacional. This tour, together with a special local event at the 8,000-seat Auditorio Citibanamex, has totally sold out. Not that it has sunk in yet.

“We’re going to be living these shows that we’ve been planning for a whole year,” Pau tells me. “It’s this weird anticipation and anxiety – we’ve been living with the concept for such a long time, rehearsing for them, planning them, working with so many people to make them happen, and now they’re going to happen!”

After Mexico, The Warning will tour South America in March before going to the UK and Europe in April, including a performance at London’s O2 Academy Brixton.

“We’re from the opposite side of the planet,” Pau continues, “so having more than a thousand people buy tickets to see us at each event in places we’ve only been once or twice is insane to us. It demonstrates the power of music and its ability to connect with people regardless of language or location.”

The Warning have extensive experience performing in both large and local venues. These days, they go between opening for the likes of Guns N’ Roses and Muse, to their own performances, changing as required, but always attempting to make it as memorable and enormous as possible.

“Production-wise, it’s like, ‘Will that fourth screen fit onstage? Probably not. “So you just remove that type of thing,” Pau says. “But we have the same setlist and intensity. It doesn’t matter whether we’re performing for 300 or 3,000 people; the principle is the same for us. “It is the same experience.”

There’s another aspect to playing away from home. They basically become ambassadors.

“When we have an appearance at a festival or someplace that rarely has Mexican guests, we do feel that we’re representing our country as a whole,” Pau tells me.

“Even though, of course, we have just a tiny little bit of what Mexican music has to offer,” Dany concurs.

Many of The Warning’s listeners may have encountered Mexican rock music for the first time.

“We strive to represent our nation in the finest light possible, because we come from such a lovely country with such beautiful culture and history and music,” Pau explains.” “Mexican rock is a really distinct music that I hope people from other parts of the globe start exploring since it’s such a rich genre with such a long history. It’s wonderful that we can be a part of it, even if only in small ways. Hopefully, we can open that door in people’s thoughts, making them intrigued about what more Latin America has to offer.

In between touring and releasing an album, The Warning has been playing with other bands. Pau collaborated with Dead Poet Society on the song HURT during the Aftershock Festival last year. When they arrived in Mexico City, she and Dany repeated the process.

Another Aftershock link, The Warning worked with Japanese band Band-Maid, whom they met at the event in 2022 and toured with last year. The two bands began working on a song together via Zoom in December 2023, with The Warning going to Japan to finish it in May (the single, SHOW THEM, was released in August).

In the accompanying song video, each member competes with their instrumental counterpart, while Dany and Band-Maid vocalist Saiki Atsumi exchange all-English vocals.

“It was very interesting to see how both of us were using a language that was not our native one,” Pau tells me. “They speak Japanese; we speak Spanish. So it was about finding a common ground in another language, making it work musically, and communicating musically.”

However, it made nailing the lines more difficult.

“We would select a word, and they would say, ‘That doesn’t mean the same thing in Japanese English.'” We’re like, “What?” What do you mean? It’s the kind of stuff that translates really differently in other people’s music.”

Show Them, a song about refusing to be little and striving to be as large as you can be, was an uplifting listen, supported by its explosive swagger. “Ultimately, music literally became the language,” according to Dany.

This partnership, as well as The Warning’s general popularity, demonstrate that fans’ tastes extend beyond their native nations and languages.

“I feel that now, because of social media and the way that things are connected, we stop looking at music as this foreign export or import,” says Pau. “It’s just this way to communicate, and music from different places in the world is just so different because the language is different, and the phonetics are different.”

This approach is especially vital in a multilingual band.

“We can make music in English and we also make it in Spanish,” according to Pau. “For people to look at those two sides that we have, and for them to consume it in the same way, it’s really cool for us.”

It’s a little early for The Warning to start planning their future album, but when questioned, they do have some ideas.

“I want to have more than one song in Spanish,” Pau tells us.

“Let’s do that!” Ale agrees.

After a year, the three sisters are still able to remain grounded. “We keep a very big balance of knowing where we are, knowing where we were, and…”

“Where we can be,” Dany adds to Pau’s notion.

Of course, having relatives nearby helps. Not only do the band members play important roles, but so do their parents, especially when touring. Pau describes their mother as “a professional mom,” and their father works as a stage manager and audio engineer. Of course, no one can keep your ego in check better than a sister.

“I feel that we keep each other humble,” Pau explains.

“We complement each other,” Dany explains.

“When we rehearse, we know how to call each other out while also recognising the steps that we’re taking,” Pau tells us. “We do that with everything in the band.” “I think we have a good balance.”

And it’s a balance that looks quite promising for the future.

“I think we’re going to be okay!”

The Warning perform at London’s O2 Academy Brixton on April 17. This interview first published in the spring 2025 edition of Kerrang!.