Maya Neelakantan

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

Background Neelakantan was born in MRC Nagar, Raja Annamalai Puram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Her father runs an IT company, and her mother, Lorina, is an Australian entrepreneur. Her parents met in Australia where her father studied astrophysics. Prasanna taught her Carnatic music. She debuted her public performance at an ashram in Kolathur, near her hometown in 2023, where she played Carnatic music. Jones immediately followed her on an Instagram account,

Neelakantan completed her elementary education in a traditional school in Chennai. (The actual audition was two months before, when she was still 10 years old ). Dressed in traditional Ghagra choli and a bindi on her forehead, She used the Gibson Les Paul, signed and presented to her by Jones.

Pappa Roach quickly commented on Instagram: "Let’s gooo!! Absolutely killed it, Maya!" Gibson company wrote: "CONGRATULATIONS MAYA!! YOU ROCK." Holt commented: "She was EPIC!!"

In July 2024, an Indian dairy corporation, Amul honoured her by issuing a cartoon of her AGT performance with a caption: "#Amul Topical: Young Chennai guitarist Maya Neelakantan creates viral waves!"

Quarterfinals At the quarterfinals live show on 28 August, Neelakantan performed Metallica's "Master of Puppets" using Gibson Flying V metallic silver. The song was with a permission from Metallica, for which Cowell commented: "I gotta say a big, big thank you to Metallica for giving you that song. That doesn't happen very often." The guitar was a recent gift from Gibson company. Tool's songs with complex and elaborate arrangements are the kind favoured by Neelakantan. Neelakantan said of Jones: "He actually messaged me a while ago saying that he does have a gift for me, but I never expected it to be something like this," and embracing the present, "Thank you so much, Adam Jones. This is really the biggest moment of my life!" Neelakantan was deeply moved by the support and wrote: "I had an incredible day! Played on America's Got Talent and on stage for the first time ever! And met the guitar legend Gary Holt for the first time ever! What a day!"

In March 2024, Holt gave Neelakantan a personally signed Holt Signature ESP guitar during their first meeting at his residence. Neelakantan posted on Twitter: Look What Happened Today! Gary Holt of Slayer/Exodus gifted me his signature guitar!!!"

Music style and instrument

Carnatic music and heavy metal Neelakantan’s first taste of music began at the age of two when her grandmother introduced her to Carnatic music.

Maya is also close friends with the Gibson CEO/President Cesar Gueikian. On her visit to Nashville earlier in 2024, she was hosted at the Gibson Garage by Gueikian, where she got a chance to play some of the most iconic guitars made by them.