From the very first moment of her Canada’s Got Talent audition in 2023, 14-year-old Maya Gamzu commanded the attention of both the show’s judges and the audience. In fact, before she had spoken a single word, it was clear that judge Kardinal Offishall was already taken aback by her confidence and stage presence, uttering an overawed ‘wow’ as the teenager strutted assuredly onto the stage. Little did Offishall know, however, that this young singer was about to impress him even more.
After introducing herself, Maya began what was undoubtedly one of the most important performances of her life – and she wasted no time in taking everyone by surprise with her powerhouse vocals and self-assured charisma. Erupting into a version of Christina Aguilera’s ‘Something’s Got A Hold On Me’ with a single held note that had audience members’ jaws dropping to the floor, the teenager sang and moved around the stage with such confidence it was like she had been doing it all her life.
But the best was yet to come for this talented teenager. When she’d finished her performance, it was to a standing ovation from the audience and a slew of positive comments from the judges. “You have a phenomenal voice, clearly,” said Lilly Singh. It was Offishall, however, who was most impressed by Maya’s vocal talents, so much so that he proceeded to tip her as the winner for the entire competition, and then gave her the golden buzzer, automatically putting her through to the semi-finals.
Unsurprisingly, Maya’s performance in the competition’s semi-final was equally impressive, with the 14-year-old taking on Jessie J’s 2011 hit ‘Domino’. Strutting her stuff in knee-high boots and a white polka dot dress, once again she owned the stage from the beginning, showcasing her incredible range by effortlessly hitting the song’s high notes. One fan actually loved the performance so much that they predicted Maya would be as famous as Taylor Swift or Christina Aguilera in ten years’ time.
Sadly, Maya did not win Canada’s Got Talent, finding herself eliminated after the semi-finals. She continues to perform live, however, and cites her time on the competition as a life-changing experience that helped her achieve her dreams. And who knows, if she continues to follow those dreams, perhaps one day other talented teenagers will follow in her footsteps and find themselves performing HER songs on shows like Canada’s Got Talent.
If you are captivated by the extraordinary talent of Maya Gamzu and would like to follow her musical journey, you can subscribe to her YouTube Channel. For more updates, feel free to like her Facebook page and follow her on Instagram.