Maya Neelakantan, the 10-year-old Adam Jones mega-fan had gone viral for performing a bunch of Tool riffs. She went viral after she played on stage for the very first time at her America’s Got Talent audition and named Adam Jones as her inspiration.
Connection with Adam Jones
The aspiring guitarist first received attention back in 2022 when she nailed Tool’s 16-minute epic, 7empest. That prompted Adam Jones himself to give her one of his signature Gibson Les Pauls, which Neelakantan quickly put to use on a 15-riff Tool medley.
Maya Neelakantan, a 10-year-old guitar sensation from India, recently took center stage on “America’s Got Talent,” mesmerizing the viewers with her amazing rock music skills. Coming from India for her audition, Maya shocked the judges with a powerful rendition of Papa Roach’s “Last Resort”. Her confident guitar playing and impeccable performance left an indelible mark.
As her family supported her from backstage, Maya’s remarkable talent and stage charisma won over judges Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara, Heidi Klum, and Howie Mandel, who all stood to applaud her after her stellar performance.
Maya’s impressive musical journey and her ability to master complex pieces across different genres have garnered her the reputation of a rising rock star in India. Her audition video has taken social media by storm, garnering millions of views and sparking widespread discussion. Viewers have flooded the comments with their admiration and amazement.
Not only the audience but the judges were blown away by what they saw, with judge Sofia Vergara calling it “a perfect audition”. Her fellow panel member, the famously-difficult-to-please Simon Cowell, was also gushing with his praise.
