“It’s as if God was doing his weekly reincarnations and just to f**k with us convinced SRV and EVH to be reincarnated into one body”: The 15-year-old Aussie teenager Nuno Bettencourt hails as a “guitar hero” in the making
15-year-old Australian blues-rock prodigy Taj Farrant has caught the attention of Nuno Bettencourt, who describes the guitarist as the reincarnation of Eddie Van Halen and Stevie Ray Vaughan combined.
Sharing a video of Farrant performing the solo to Mumma Raised A Man, a track from the teenager’s debut album Chapter One, Bettencourt says he had “chills” watching it and that he “must have rewatched [it] a dozen times”.
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“Yes, the internet is littered with great players, especially jaw dropping technical players. But rarely, do you get that technical prowess that shoots straight through the heart with pure emotion,” the Extreme virtuoso gushes.
“We may be witnessing a true future guitar hero in our midst,” he says, noting the way Farrant “shreds the blues” – and more crucially – “does it with soul, passion, and fire”.
“It’s as if God was doing his weekly reincarnations, but on this day enjoying a bit of a drink [and] just to fuck with us convinced SRV and EVH to be reincarnated into one body. And just for fun he threw in Michael Jordan’s fingers.”
“Dangerous. Inspiring. And this is unleashed live on a fucking stage, not in the safety of a bedroom or studio,” writes Bettencourt.
“I truly don’t care about your age. I’m not in awe of that. I’m in awe of you,” he adds. “You are fierce. It’s pouring out of you. Go get it kid.”
Farrant has since replied to Bettencourt, thanking the latter for his “kind and inspiring words to path my own destiny and keep ripping.”
For those unfamiliar with the name, Farrant has been turning heads in the guitar world since he was a child. First gaining national attention on Australia’s Got Talent at just nine years old, he quickly built a reputation as a blues prodigy with a searing touch far beyond his years. His journey has also seen him perform alongside the likes of Carlos Santana and Orianthi, as well as appear on major platforms such as The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
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A post shared by Nuno (@nunobettencourtofficial)
I would just like to thank brother Nuno Bettencourt for the kind and inspiring words to path my own destiny and keep ripping thank man it means a lot
Posted by Taj Farrant on Sunday, February 23, 2025
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