Meet Adrian Abraham, 9-year-old Indian-origin rock and metal guitarist aiming to set a world record by attempting the Grade 8 electric guitar exam

At an age when most children are playing around in playgrounds and still mastering their first interests, a nine-year-old Indian-origin prodigy is aiming for a world record. Adrian Abraham is preparing to walk into a Grade 8 electric guitar exam and, if he passes, then into record books.The UK-based tween is a rock and metal guitarist, singer and songwriter, currently training for the exam, the highest grade in the graded music system. Passing it at nine, would make him the youngest person ever to achieve the milestone on the electric guitar, an achievement that would also earn him an official Guinness World Record.A talented artist, Abraham’s technical prowess has earned him global artist sponsorships from two renowned names in rock music: Marshall Amplifiers and Solar Guitars. “I just love playing the guitar and expressing myself through rock and metal music. Preparing for my Grade 8 exam is a lot of hard work, but the thought of setting a Guinness World Record keeps me practising every day!” he told Wion.From Western metal to Indian rock tracks, the nine-year-old has a wide musical repertoire. “I also really love exploring my roots by covering great Indian tracks like the music from Rockstar,” he said. “It’s so cool to see people from all over the world enjoying how I mix Western rock with Bollywood elements.”He also has a social media profile with a following of 5K on Instagram, where he posts renditions and covers inspired by Indian and international artists. Supporters have followed his progress online, and Abraham has earned praise from fans and artists alike.A Grade 8 exam is a challenging benchmark. It typically requires an advanced command of musical interpretation, technique, sight-reading and aural skills. “I want to show other kids that if you love something and practice hard, you can achieve big things no matter how old you are,” shared Abraham.As of now, the current record holder for the title is Alexander Hargraves from Colne, England, who achieved it earlier this year at 11 years and seven months. For now, Abraham is preparing for the exam which will determine if he joins the Guinness World Records list.