iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
Ten-year-old Maya Neelakantan, an Indian-origin prodigy, recently stunned audiences and judges alike on the popular TV show ‘America’s Got Talent’ (AGT) with her extraordinary rock performance, infused with Indian classical elements.
Hailing from Chennai, India, Maya took the AGT stage by storm, delivering a powerful rendition of Papa Roach’s ‘Last Resort’. What set her apart was not just her age, but her unique approach to the rock classic. Maya seamlessly incorporated Carnatic music elements into her performance, creating a mesmerizing fusion that captivated the audience and judges.
Adding to the visual spectacle, Maya eschewed typical rock attire in favor of traditional Indian clothing. She appeared on stage wearing a colorful Ghagra (a type of long skirt) and sported a striking bindi on her forehead, creating a contrast with her rock performance.
Maya’s 100-second audition left an indelible impression on all four AGT judges – Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara, Heidi Klum, and Howie Mandel – who responded with a unanimous standing ovation.
Sofia Vergara, visibly impressed, playfully questioned Maya’s age, to which the young guitarist responded with a shy, knowing smile. Simon Cowell, known for his critical eye, was left nearly speechless, uttering a simple “Whoa!” to express his amazement.
Cowell elaborated on his reaction, noting how Maya’s performance evolved from a gentle start to a full-fledged rock spectacle. He praised her transformation from a shy 10-year-old to a “rock goddess” on stage. In a moment of personal reflection, Cowell shared his own failed attempts at learning guitar, humorously stating that his teacher had given up on him.
Howie Mandel predicted that Maya’s performance would go viral, a forecast that quickly came true, as clips of her audition spread rapidly across social media platforms. When asked about her musical influences, Maya demonstrated her knowledge of rock history by citing Adam Jones of Tool and Gary Holt of Exodus and Slayer as her inspirations.
Heidi Klum added to the praise, describing Maya’s performance as “gutsy and incredible”.
Maya’s journey to AGT stardom began long before her audition. She has cultivated a significant following on social media, particularly Instagram and YouTube, where she regularly posts covers of rock and metal songs. Her repertoire includes renditions of tracks by legendary bands such as Tool, Metallica, and Slayer.
In 2022, Maya’s talent caught the attention of Tool guitarist Adam Jones when she covered the band’s song “7empest”. More recently, she had a life-changing encounter with one of her idols, Gary Holt. Maya visited Holt at his home in March 2023, where they jammed together, and Holt gifted her a guitar from his collection. Maya described this meeting as “the greatest day of her life” in a YouTube video.
Following her AGT performance, Maya took to YouTube to express her gratitude, writing, “What an honor that I got to play for the first time on stage and it’s on America’s Got Talent! Thank you for creating an unforgettable memory for me!!”
