By George Bond
Texas has long produced sibling acts whose shared DNA translates into shared musical firepower — from Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan to Edgar and Johnny Winter, and later Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul. In North Texas, a new pair of sisters is beginning to draw similar attention — through discipline, range, and a growing presence across the Dallas-Fort Worth club circuit.
Grace and Emilia Figueroa, 20 and 16, have quietly built momentum over the past year. Grace was named Best Vocalist at the 2024 Richardson Wildflower Festival Battle of the Bands. Emilia placed second in the Ten Under Twenty competition at the Dallas International Guitar Show. Together, they front Little Queen, a Heart tribute act that has developed a steady following and a full calendar of bookings across the region.
Offstage, the sisters balance lessons, teaching, multiple band commitments, and original projects. Their influences span classic rock, opera training, jazz programs, and progressive metal. Onstage, they bring a shared center rooted in artists such as Van Halen and Heart — power vocals paired with technically precise guitar work.
The Figueroa sisters talk with Buddy about the family soundtrack that sparked their journey, the teachers who shaped them, their evolving gear and ambitions, and where they see their music taking them next.
Buddy Magazine: What was the spark in your life that got you into music?
Grace Figueroa: A spark in my life that got me into music was always my parents playing music when I was a little kid. And they didn’t play, like I would say, the typical music. I guess you could call it “Dad Rock,” but they would play Van Halen. They would play Guns N ‘ Roses. My mom would play a lot of different things. There’s a Colombian artist named Juanes. She’d play Gorillas. So we were exposed to that a lot as kids, and I think that always got me curious to listen to different types of music, especially older rock music. And then that kind of spark got set off when I started playing drums in fifth grade, and I joined the School of Rock and started singing. And from there, that spark just soared.
Emilia Figueroa: Okay, you know the spark? It was really a lot from my parents as well. They showed us a lot of Classic Rock music, and my mom really had a lot of interest in showing me guitar. And after going into the whole journey of learning guitar, I’ve learned about a bunch of artists like Van Halen, and Eddie has been one of my biggest inspirations. I’ve always been with School of Rock with Grace, and we’ve done that for a while together. We were both in the top program house band together, and that just really sparked us together. I feel like that’s what really started our journey together.
Grace Figueroa: The funny thing was that we have an older brother, just a year older than myself. He’s twenty- one right now. He started playing piano at School of Rock, and when he got signed up, my mom was like, do you want to sign up? Drums seemed pretty interesting, because my dad was a drummer. So I decided I’ll try that. And then, I like singing more. My brother dropped out of the program, and that’s when my mom was kind of pushing Emilia – “Hey, you should play guitar!” We need a guitar player in the family, because she sings and plays piano. So we didn’t have that guitar player in the family, and Emilia more than fills the spot.
Buddy Magazine: Who was the singer who made you want to sing?
Grace Figueroa: Okay, a singer that made me want to start singing was probably David Lee Roth, just because I grew up listening to Van Halen. I have memories of myself when we used to live in Connecticut at our old house, singing “Jamie’s Crying” in the living room. And I just loved his voice, but I also loved all the cool squeals that he did. He has that big character. And I love that. I love musical theater, and he kind of reminds me of being very theatrical. So he inspired me to sing.
Emilia Figueroa: The same thing. Eddie Van Halen. He was my biggest inspiration. But as I remember the first time, my dad showed me the solo to “Eruption,” and that’s what really made me curious about learning guitar and getting better at it, because I wanted to play just like him and have his same expression of how he plays guitar, because he has so much emotion behind it, and how much energy he has when he plays. I wanted to be just like that, and that’s like the biggest motivation.
Buddy Magazine: Okay! Grace, what was the song that set you off to start singing?
Grace: Okay, for that, I have a clear answer. It’s not what I think you would expect, but the first song that ever made me go “Okay, I want to sing!” was the Irene Cara song “Out Here On My Own” from the movie “Fame.” My mom was big into musical theater, and so she put me on to that. I remember listening to that song, and she was so pretty! I wanted to “belt” like that. I remember learning that song, going into my room, and just sitting and learning and just repeating, repeating, repeating. I sang it to my parents, and I’m like, “This is what I want to do.” I love singing.
Emilia Figueroa: A song that set me off would be another Van Halen song, “I’m The One,” and also “Panama”. It’s just such a classic rock song, and the guitar is so intricate. On those songs, there’s so much going on, but it also keeps the melody going, and has so much dynamic to it. I really appreciate that and the technique Eddie put into it, and I apply that to my playing.
Grace Figueroa: You shred that “I’m The One” song!
Buddy Magazine: All right, wonderful! I think you probably answered this question. Where do you study music? Or are you still studying at the School of Rock and Rock Stars of Tomorrow?
Emilia Figueroa: Yeah, right. Right now, I am at School of Rock and Rock Stars, and I’m just taking lessons with two teachers.
Buddy Magazine: How long have you been there?
Emilia Figueroa: School of Rock, I’ve been there for about eight years. And Rock Stars, I just recently started.
Grace Figueroa: I did Rock Stars for a little bit with Emilia – I didn’t take lessons there. And then I did School of Rock for a while, and I took a few lessons. But right now I’m on and off lessons with a local singer named Linda Bishop. She was a singer in the Dallas music scene six years ago, and then she went into retirement. She’s doing some on-and-off lessons with me.
Buddy Magazine: Okay, who’s your favorite singer right now, as we speak?
Grace Figueroa: Singer? I think, as of right now, I love Ann Wilson, and it’s kind of because we have our Heart tribute band. I’ve had to listen to a lot of her, and so I really appreciate her singing. I also like the Colombian artist Juanes; he’s an awesome male singer with an awesome tenor voice.
Buddy Magazine: Emilia, who’s your favorite guitar player right now?
Emilia Figueroa: I would say Joe Satriani, because there’s so much rock going on, but it’s also bluesy at the same time. And he has a really good balance of that, and now he has so much technique in it with making the weird sounds, and it’s just so intriguing. I love listening to it.
Buddy Magazine: Any other instruments you have played?
Emilia Figueroa: I used to play bass clarinet for like three years, and I also did a year of violin.
Grace Figueroa: I played drums for six or seven years. I learned how to play piano recently so I can read sheet music, and I played a little bit of bass guitar. I’m self-taught. Emilia tried to teach me some guitar, but I can’t do it. It’s too hard. (laughs)
Buddy Magazine: Okay, Emilia, going over to you. What kind of guitars are you using these days?
Emilia Figueroa: Right now, I have an Ernie Ball Majesty Music Man, and that’s my baby. I play that guitar at every show, every Little Queen show ever since I got it. Because I started with a cheap guitar-it wasn’t even a branded guitar, like Fender or anything like that. It was something totally random that would fall out of tune. But after that, I got my first real guitar, which was a Fender Telecaster. And I played that one for a couple of years, and it took me through most of my journey of learning guitar, and then that brought me to my Ernie Ball Majesty that I play all the time.
Buddy Magazine: What kind of amplifiers and/or processors are you using right now?
Emilia Figueroa: Yeah, I have a Fractal Audio System, and I have a Mesa Boogie amplifier. But mainly when I’m playing live. I’m playing with the Fractal.
Buddy Magazine: Okay, all right! How did you feel about winning second place last year at the Dallas International Guitar Show Ten Under Twenty guitar contest?
Emilia Figueroa: You know, I was super proud of having placed second and being at that level, because there were so many amazing guitar players, and it’s super competitive. Being able to make it second among ten people who are crazy about playing guitar, I was so grateful, and I was just honored to be able to play with everyone else.
Buddy Magazine: Are you going back to the contest again?
Emilia Figueroa: Yes, yes, going first this time.
Buddy Magazine: Okay! Any other guitar players you’re liking these days?
Emilia Figueroa: I love John Petrucci; he is one of my favorites. I have his guitar. I listen to music all the time. Tim Henson from Polyphia-I love his technique.
Buddy Magazine: Styles other than Rock and Pop?
Emilia Figueroa: Disco-I love disco. I love funk a lot too. Classical and Jazz. I love Jazz. Jazz has also been something that really brought me into guitar because I feel like jazz is the basis of music. And for a while, I took a Jazz program called GDYO (Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra), which is like an audition program, and you get to play in bigger venues in the Dallas area and Fort Worth.
Buddy Magazine: Okay, when will we see the Emilia Figueroa band out playing original material?
Emilia Figueroa: Maybe, I don’t know. I want to, soon.
Buddy Magazine: Okay, all right. Are you trying to write songs right now?
Emilia Figueroa: I am. Actually, Grace and I have come up with a couple of things, but right now I’ve been listening to a lot of Godsmack, and I’ve been doing some inspiration from that to write my own song, which I’ve recorded.
Buddy Magazine: Okay, Grace, you’re up. Who was it? Who was your favorite singer these days?
Grace Figueroa: I think you covered that, Ann Wilson and Juanes.
Buddy Magazine: What’s your favorite era of music?
Grace Figueroa: Seventies and Yacht Rock, definitely. Or just the Seventies. Disco, yeah.
Buddy Magazine: I got word that you studied opera at UT-Austin?
Grace Figueroa: Kind of. I studied vocal performance at UT for a year. I did have a teacher for the two semesters I was there, and he was an opera singer. He did teach me his opera technique. And I think as a singer, it’s so important to just be classically trained, because it really helps with breathing control, and it opened a whole world for me, and it just opened up my game as a singer. So it’s important to be classically trained.
Buddy Magazine: All right! How is life with such a hectic gig schedule these days?
Grace Figueroa: Honestly, I don’t know how I figure things out (laughs) because I have gigs on the weekend. January and December have been very quiet, which is nice. I like having some time off. I am also a vocal instructor. I work Mondays and Wednesdays, and then I am a full-time student. I’m taking four classes, and I’m studying psychology. On my nights that I’m not working, I have rehearsals and stuff, so it’s hectic, but I like being busy, so I think it’s fine. I still find time to do things with friends and spend time with family.
Buddy Magazine: Okay, it works out. And when will we see the Grace Figueroa band out playing original material?
Grace Figueroa: Just like Emilia said, hopefully soon!
Buddy Magazine: Are you writing original songs as well?
Grace Figueroa: I’m trying to! I’m writing lyrics and stuff. Myself and Emilia are going to try to write together, but I am also writing a few songs for this original band I’m in called Resonance Theory. I recently made a music video with them, and I co-wrote a song, so we have two new songs that we’re writing that are in the works right now that I’m co-writing and writing both the melody and lyrics.
Buddy Magazine: What bands are you working with these days?
Emilia Figueroa: I’m in a couple of bands on the side with Grace called Disco Queens. We don’t play too often, but we do that. And then recently, I’ve been doing a Prince tribute band and a Michael Jackson tribute with a full group called Starstruck. That’s been a recent band. Most importantly, Little Queen, oh yeah.
Buddy Magazine: Grace?
Grace Figueroa: Little Queen, of course! I mentioned the band Resonance Theory, which is an original band that’s more like progressive rock/metal. Champagne Yacht Club (Yacht Rock), which I sing with from time to time. I did some Disco Queen and Top Forty band stuff. I am Shania Twain in a Shania Twain tribute band called Still the One. I am working with Jordan Kahn on some shows, and also with a wedding band called Aura. Then there’s Wild Boys, the Duran Duran tribute band, as well as (an 80s band) Area 84. Too many bands! (laughs)
Buddy Magazine: I was reading an interview years ago. Somebody was interviewing guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen and asked him when he and (bassist) Billy Sheehan got together, what was their “center”? What was their central focus? Who was the artist who really brought both of them together? And Yngwie said “Jimi Hendrix”, actually. So,when you two get together and play, who is the artist that really brings you two together?
Grace Figueroa: Well, I guess Heart, yeah.
Emilia Figueroa: Maybe Van Halen, too, because we both really like Van Halen. We don’t play enough Van Halen together,
Grace Figueroa: Also, a big one is Pat Benatar. There’s just some chemistry with her and Neil Geraldo.
Buddy Magazine: What is the one song that binds you together as musical sisters?
Grace Figueroa: Ooh, that’s a really good question!
Emilia Figueroa: Sweet Child?
Grace Figueroa: I love that song!
Emilia Figueroa: Barracuda?
Grace Figueroa: Yeah, Barracuda.
Buddy Magazine: All right! How do you two inspire each other?
Grace Figueroa: Okay, I’ll go first! Emilia has a really, really good work ethic, and it’s crazy to see, because she just turned 16, but at 15 and 14, she has this insane work ethic, and when she wants to learn something, when she wants to get something done, she’ll just do it. And seeing that is very inspiring to me, because I have a work ethic, but it’s a little different. It’s more like, I’ll do it on the back end of things. Usually, when I’m under pressure, I work better. So I don’t do things right away, per se. Watching her and how she always has her act together, the way she works around things, and even the fact that she’s a very patient person. I’ve seen her teach people, and I’ve seen her be patient with people trying to learn something. She’ll take her time, and she’ll be focused until she gets it. And then that inspires me.
Emilia Figueroa: Grace, something that really inspired me about you is the way you’re able to balance everything you have going on because you have so many bands, so much going on. And not only that, you still find the time to learn every song in those set lists. It could be like thirty songs in one band, twenty songs in another band, but you still find the time to learn everything, and you’re on point every time. And everyone knows that whenever you are playing live, people love hearing you, and it’s crazy how you have so much content that you’ve learned and perfected. It sounds amazing. And on top of that, the way you teach with your students that you have. You’re very patient, and you can tell that they’re gaining stuff out of it-they’re enjoying the lessons because they’re always coming back. And it just inspires me how you have so much going on, but you balance it so well. It sounds like you’re perfect for every single thing.
Grace Figueroa: Thank you!
Buddy Magazine: Grace, where do you see yourself in five or ten years musically?
Grace Figueroa: Well, in a perfect world, it would be at the Grammys or something (laughs), but honestly, music for me never has been “Oh, I’m gonna make it. I’m gonna be famous”. I mean, that would be awesome if I were an original artist with my sister by my side, that’s the ideal thing. But honestly, if music is in my life in ten years, whether I’m teaching, still performing, I think I’d be happy with that, because it’s just such a gift to just be able to do it-to be able to sing, and to be able to play guitar really well. So as long as I’m still doing it, that’s really enough for me and spreading joy to people who love music. That’s enough for me.
Emilia Figueroa: Yeah, I would love for the future with music. I would totally love to have something with Grace, a band to be having originals and even tours, if it’s ever possible. We will make it happen! But I also really love the idea of becoming a session musician to help other greats, such as co-writing with them and performing and touring with them. That’s my biggest inspiration. I’ve always wanted to be a hired gun. I would really love to be there in a couple of years and go to Berklee College of Music and study music theory. Anything with that, and continue with music like in the future with Grace.
Buddy Magazine: All right! It looks like we are starting to see the beginning of the Figueroa Sisters’ Band right now. How long has your flagship project, Heart tribute band) Little Queen been going now?
Grace Figueroa: I think it’ll be a year in March. We’ve come a long way.
Buddy Magazine: Has it been fun?
Grace Figueroa: Oh, my goodness, yeah, it’s been a lot of fun.
Buddy Magazine: How has it been received in the DFW area?
Grace Figueroa: You know, I think very well, in a short amount of time.
Emilia Figueroa: I feel like we’ve created a really nice following. Like, at the beginning, when we first started Little Queen, whenever Grace says to the crowd, “How many people have seen us before?” Only a couple of hands, or maybe none, only the parents’ hands-yeah, only the parents’ hands. But recently, after building this band and having a following on social media, and our parents having helped us through creating a website, a Facebook page, and having connections, I feel like now when Grace asks the same question at shows, so many more hands are raised up! We can really tell there’s a following, and it’s so happy.
Grace Figueroa: It’s insane! I just can’t express my gratitude to everyone who supports us and helps us. The one thing I love about the Dallas music scene is that everyone is just so nice and welcoming to each other. I mean, of course, you have some people, but for the most part, they welcome us with open arms and support us. And there have been so many people I could mention. I have a whole list of people who have just helped us and pushed us, and we wouldn’t be where we’re at without them.
Buddy Magazine: So there are currently 20 gigs lined up for 2026, right? Where and when is your next show?
Grace Figueroa: February 21st at a place called Robson Ranch in Denton, Texas, which is an older living community, but I haven’t been there. Emilia has, and it seats like three hundred people,
Buddy Magazine: When is your next public show for Little Queen?
Grace Figueroa: March 13th at the Bartonville Store in Bartonville, Texas.
Grace Figueroa: My next public show is February 20th at Harvest Hall in Grapevine, Texas, with the band Area 84.
Emilia Figueroa: Our first real acoustic show together will be on March 6th at Frisco Bar and Grill in Frisco, Texas.Buddy Magazine: Awesome! Thank you so much for sitting down with Buddy Magazine, ladies! Everyone’s looking forward to seeing you out in the DFW area real soon!
