Maya Neelakantan

Maya Neelakantan
Born (2013-05-04) 4 May 2013 (age 11)
Chennai, India
GenresCarnatic, Heavy Metal, Rock, World fusion
OccupationMusician
InstrumentGuitar

Maya Neelakantan (born 4 May 2013[1][2]) is a Tamil prodigy and guitarist from Chennai, India. Playing heavy metal music since six years of age and also learning Carnatic music from nine years of age,[3] she auditioned at the America's Got Talent season 19 in April 2024.[4][5] Her performance, an instrumental fusion of Carnatic intro and the heavy metal song "Last Resort" by Papa Roach, became a sensational hit.[6][7] For her guitar prowess, Simon Cowell called her the "rock goddess."[8][9][10] Playing Metallica's "Master of Puppets" at the quarterfinals, she could not make it to the next round.[11]

  1. ^ Kothari, Sonu M. (2024-07-09). "Rythms [sic] of a 'Rock goddess'". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  2. ^ Matt, Parker (2022-06-10). "Watch 9-year-old guitarist Maya Neelakantan tackle Tool's 16-minute epic, 7empest". Guitar World. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  3. ^ PTI. "I want to create a genre of my own: Guitar prodigy Maya Neelakantan". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  4. ^ Baruah, Akashdeep (2024-07-08). "Amul pays tribute to 'Rock Goddess' Maya Neelakantan - CNBC TV18". CNBCTV18. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  5. ^ "I want to create a genre of my own: Guitar prodigy Maya Neelakantan". The Times of India. 2024-07-10. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  6. ^ Segarra, Edward (2024-06-26). "Simon Cowell raves over 10-year-old's heavy metal performance on 'America's Got Talent': Watch". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  7. ^ Khurana, Suanshu (2024-07-04). "Meet 11-yr-old 'Rock goddess' who floored America's Got Talent". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  8. ^ PA, Aneesa (2024-07-07). "11-year-old Tamil 'rock goddess' wows America with Carnatic guitar and a headbang". ThePrint. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  9. ^ "For Anand Mahindra, This 10-Year-Old America's Got Talent Contestant Is 'Rock Goddess'". News18. 2024-07-01. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  10. ^ "Who is Maya Neelakantan? 11-year-old Chennai-based 'rock goddess' stole the show at 'America's Got Talent'". Deccan Herald. 2024-07-01. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  11. ^ Cohn, Paulette (2024-08-28). "Find Out Who Went Home on 'America's Got Talent' Tonight". Parade. Retrieved 2024-08-29.