One of America’s Got Talent’s most famous performers is a 10-year-old Maya Neelakantan that Master of Puppets cover wowed every judge and even Metallica who shared the performance on Facebook.
11-Year-Old Guitarist Maya Neelakantan Performs “Master of Puppets” | quarter final | AGT 2024
He wrote on YouTube: “Thank you so much! It’s an honor that Metallica trusts me to make them proud and that I can play this great Metallica song for the first time on AGT! And the AGT crew is amazing in making it an incredible unforgettable experience there is a reason I started playing the guitar since 6 years and now it feels like a full circle that I got to play Metallica for my 2 biggest stage performance for me! Thank you for your love and support.
Maya advanced to the quarterfinals of America’s Got Talent, where she delivered a powerful rendition of Metallica’s Master of Puppets, using a Gibson Flying V metallic silver guitar. Despite her electrifying performance, she did not advance to the semifinals. However, her journey on AGT significantly raised her profile, gaining fans around the world, including famous musicians like Gary Holt of Exodus and Slayer, who auditioned to show their support.
Here’s what you need to know about it guitar player:
Who is Maya Neelakantan?
Maya Neelakantan, born May 4, 2013, in Chennai, India, is a young guitar prodigy known for her unique blend of heavy metal and Carnatic music. Hailing from MRC Nagar, Raja Annamalai Puram in Chennai, Maya has enthralled audiences worldwide with her extraordinary talent and innovative musical style. His journey began at the age of six when he picked up the guitar under the influence of his father, who, although not a professional musician, had a penchant for playing riffs from great metal bands like Metallica and Slayer. This early exposure to rock music piqued Maya’s interest, and soon she learned to play her first song, “For Whom The Bell Tolls” by Metallica.
Maya’s multicultural background played an important role in shaping her musical identity. His father, an IT company owner with a background in astrophysics, and his mother, Lorina, an Australian entrepreneur, met in Australia. Maya’s diverse heritage and her family’s musical passions inspire her to explore different genres, blending them seamlessly in her performances. At the age of nine, he began formal training in Carnatic music with Prasanna Ramaswamy, a prominent Tamil guitarist in New York. Prasanna’s guidance helped Maya develop a deep understanding of Carnatic music, which she skilfully combined with heavy metal renditions.
Maya’s talent immediately caught the attention of the global music community. In 2022, a cover of “7empest” by Grammy-winning rock band Tool went viral on his YouTube channel, which his father created to show off his skills. This performance impressed Adam Jones, Tool’s guitarist, who was an admirer of her work. Jones even presented Maya with a customized Gibson Adam Jones Les Paul guitar, marking a milestone in her burgeoning career.
In 2024, Maya’s extraordinary abilities lead her to the stage America’s Got Talent (AGT), where he auditioned for the show’s 19th season. Her performance was broadcast in June 2024, but the actual audition took place two months earlier when she was ten years old. Dressed in traditional Indian attire, Maya wowed the audience and judges with a fusion of the Carnatic devotional intro and the heavy metal song “Last Resort” by Papa Roach. This unique combination not only got a standing ovation but also earned praise from all the AGT judges. Simon Cowell, known for his critical eye, hailed her as a “rock goddess,” while Howie Mandel predicted her performance would go viral.
Beyond her television appearances, Maya continues to develop her musical style, drawing on her dual love for heavy metal and Carnatic music. He credits his grandmother for introducing him to Carnatic music at the age of two, a genre that has remained close to him even as he explores the world of metal. Maya’s ambition to combine these two seemingly disparate styles has led her to create a unique sound that reflects her diverse influences and desire to push musical boundaries.