The Warning Fend Off Detractors in Spanish on “Ego”
Though it seemed as if Wet Leg and The Last Dinner Party had run away with the conversation regarding the most dominant female-led groups in contemporary music within the last year, The Warning, a sister trio from Monterrey, Mexico, have stepped up to the plate.
Made up of the Villarreal Velez sisters Daniela, Paulina, and Alejandra, The Warning are a devoted group of multi-instrumentalists and vocalists. Each sister performs with a ferociousness that is both technical and composed, as they instinctively hold space for the musical boundaries of the others. This, as well as the evident use of appropriate physical theatrics and a hardened, musicianship-centric sound, is reflected across both live performances and studio recordings.
"Ego,” sung entirely in their native tongue, is lyrically fierce and steadfast in their refusal to allow outside forces from restraining them. The English translation of the chorus amounts to something of, “Don’t tell me that I can’t / I always take what I want/ I don’t bark, I only bite / A direct attack on the ego.” In Spanish, this is interpreted as, “No me digan que yo no puedo / Siempre tomo lo que no quiero / Yo no ladro, yo solo muerdo/ Un ataque directo al ego.”
With that said, is it sung with a conviction worthy of this level of brashness? Well, most certainly! A distorted guitars and pulsating drums-led instrumental arrangement and vocal performance with a level of intensity comparable to say, a “Don’t Hurt Yourself” by Beyoncè or “Easier Than Lying” by Halsey, “Ego” is a fight song waiting to happen. A warm-up anthem ahead of a night out to defiantly walking away from a toxic partner, this song stands its ground.
Its accompanying music video provides a tell-tale visual, with the girls cloaked in black and seemingly impenetrable to the hordes of men and flashing cameras. “This music video is all about reclaiming your power, embracing confidence, and standing tall in your identity… even when the world is watching,” they said in a press release. “It’s always so special for us to release music in our first language, Spanish…”
Recent releases include collaborations with fellow rock chick Maggie Lindemann on “let me burn” and regional Mexican star Carin León on “Love To Be Loved. “Kerosene,” with its insurmountably infectious hook, serves as sister song of sorts to “Ego”: “Strip down for me, I see right through you/ Spit kerosene, you know you want to!”
The band are currently on tour supporting Yungblud on his IDOLS World Tour, and are set to appear at a plethora of overseas festivals this summer. They’ll headline NYC’s Pier 17 the night following their show with Yungblud at Radio City Music Hall in early June.
Listen to “Ego” below:
