Who is Maya Neelakantan? 'AGT' Season 19 guitarist impressed Tool guitarist Adam Jones with mad guitar skills
CHENNAI, INDIA: Maya Neelakantan, the 11-year-old, captured the attention of thousands of viewers when she performed a cover of Tool's 16-minute epic, "7empest," earlier in 2022. The young 'America's Got Talent' Season 19 contestant impressed Adam Jones so much that he sent the young guitarist his signature Gibson guitar, the Adam Jones Les Paul Standard.
Maya was obviously overjoyed to receive the present at the time, calling the moment she opened it "the biggest day of my life." Therefore, it should come as no surprise that she is making excellent use of the exquisitely furnished, and in this instance, distinguished, six-string.
The wunderkind has put together a mashup of 15 crisp sections from various songs in Tool's extensive discography and uploaded it to Maya's YouTube profile. Presumably, the Les Paul Standard owned by Adam Jones is in capable hands.
Maya begins with the song 'Intention', taken from the band's 2006 album 10,000 Days. She then covers a number of other songs, including 'Lateralus' (2001), 'Vicarious' (2006), 'Descending' (2019), 'Third Eye' (1996), and many more.
She also plays a little bit of 7empest, which she performed flawlessly. In case you missed it, the Gibson Adam Jones Les Paul Standard was introduced in March 2022.
It was meant to serve as a more cost-effective substitute for the Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom, which was introduced in 2020 and cost at least $5,999, contingent on the specific specifications selected. The Adam Jones Les Paul Standard is a $2,999 guitar featuring a maple top and a mahogany body covered in nitrocellulose lacquer.
Mahogany neck, 22-fret ebony fingerboard, Tune-O-Matic bridge, Burstbucker 1 and DC high-gain humbucker pickups, antique silver burst finish.
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EXODUS's Gary Holt applauded Maya Neelakantan after 'AGT' Season 19 audition
Guitar phenomenon on the internet, Maya, arrived in the US for an 'AGT' audition. Before departing, Maya shared a photo of her trip on Instagram and mentioned a few legendary metal figures that she hoped to meet while traveling.
Gary Holt (Exodus, Slayer) made the incredibly kind decision to fly to Los Angeles and support Maya during her audition. Naturally, Maya was ecstatic and posted on Instagram, gushing about her performance and time spent with Holt.
Since then, Maya has shared a much longer video with a lovely narrative that details the entire event.
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'AGT' Season 19 guitarist Maya Neelakantan has nailed the genre of thrash metal
Imagine a five-year-old girl listening to heavy metal music, dancing about the home, and slapping her small toy guitar. It's Maya here. Now eleven years old, Maya has broadened the genres on her five actual guitars and swapped out her toy ones, making her a well-known figure on social media.
Maya, an 11-year-old guitarist, is displaying her abilities in Indian classical Carnatic music, TOOL songs, and thrash metal. But music is everything to this self-taught metal musician.
'AGT' Season 19 guitarist Maya Neelakantan is an online sensation
Maya, an 11-year-old guitarist, has garnered recognition for her remarkable abilities and youthful performances. Her ability to play intricate guitar compositions caught people's attention, and she frequently released videos of herself performing them on social media and other websites.
Due to her talent, both other artists and music lovers have come to recognize and respect Maya. Her potential as a rising star in the music industry is highlighted by her ability to execute complex melodies with assurance and accuracy.
It takes a great deal of commitment and practice to become a skilled musician; it is not an easy task. But Maya, who is eleven years old, already appears to be a proficient guitarist. Her amazing talents were captured in videos that were shared on Instagram and quickly gained popularity.
Many viewers have expressed their enthusiasm and appreciation for the little prodigy's performance.
Maya performed a stunning copy of Slayer's classic metal song 'Raining Blood' on Instagram, showcasing her amazing guitar abilities. She plays the guitar flawlessly in the video, striking each note with accuracy and precision.
Both guitar experts and fans of heavy music have praised her spectacular performance widely.
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Watch Maya Neelakantan set the stage on fire in a brand-new episode of 'America's Got Talent' Season 19 on June 25 on NBC at 8 pm ET