The self-taught guitar prodigy has come a long way from Phuket market performances as she prepares for her biggest stage yet
2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenAidan JonesPublished: 1:03pm, 24 Aug 2026A twist of fate put a guitar in Nene Royal’s hands. Aged seven, she wanted to join the computer science club at her school in Phuket, Thailand, but it was already full.“The only place left was in the music club, and the teacher handed me a guitar,” she told This Week in Asia. “The moment I started playing, something clicked.”
Now just 16, the self-taught rocker has a shot at global stardom on the world’s most watched talent show, America’s Got Talent.
“I learned by watching YouTube videos, studying musicians and performers I admired and practising for hours every day,” said Nene, whose real name is Rattikan Amloy, in an email.
I hope my journey can show other young people in Thailand that it’s OK to dream bigNene RoyalThailand has a long affinity with rock and guitar music, although the scene is dominated by men. Nene said that was never part of her story.
