Classical Guitarist Reacts to Irta Amalia’s INSANE Cover of “Surrender”

I came across a guitarist whose work caught my attention, and I decided to sit down and react to one of her performances. I didn’t know exactly what to expect, but I was curious to see how she approached the song and how her style would come through.

With my headphones ready, I wanted to really focus on the details of her playing. As I listened, I paid close attention to her technique, tone, and expression.

I also thought about how her performance compared to other music I’ve heard and how it connected with my own background as a guitarist.

Key Takeaways

  • I introduced the guitarist and shared my first impressions
  • I focused on her style, technique, and sound
  • I reflected on how her performance connects to other music I know

About ITA Amalia

I first found ITA Amalia when someone from Indonesia shared a list of great guitarists with me. Her cover of Surrender by Andra and The Backbone caught my attention, and it already had around 400k views.

What stood out most to me was her bending technique. She used bends often and connected them smoothly with the next notes.

I also liked the way she added harmonics with bends, which gave her playing a unique touch. The harmonization between the two guitars reminded me a little of Metallica.

The solo felt simple but effective, built on a clear progression with muted downstrokes. Her expressions while playing showed she was enjoying every moment, which made it even more engaging.

I noticed the sound was very clean and live, with a bit of feedback from the amp that added character. I also enjoyed the small harp-like section she played.

  • Style highlights:
    • Strong use of bends
    • Harmonics with bends
    • Clear solo phrasing
    • Expressive stage presence

Overview Of The Surrender Cover

I watched Ita Amalia play the Surrender cover, and it had a mellow but powerful feel. What stood out to me most were her bendings.

She used them a lot, and every time she added a harmonic with a bend, it felt like she really enjoyed doing it. The ending section caught my ear because of the harmonization between the two guitars.

It reminded me a little of Metallica. The solo itself was simple, built on a downstroke mute progression, but it sounded very clean and expressive.

I also noticed her expressions while playing. At times her eyes looked intense, almost like an “Undertaker mode,” but you could tell she was having fun.

A few details stood out:

  • Clear sound with a live feel, including slight amp feedback
  • Harp-like section that added variety
  • Smooth connection between big bends and the next notes

The whole video gave me a bit of a 2020 vibe, like the kind of home recordings many musicians made during the pandemic. I don’t know when she recorded it, but that’s the feeling I got.

Performance Highlights

Guitar Techniques And Bendings

I noticed her bendings right away. She used them often, and each one felt smooth and controlled.

I liked how she connected a big bend into the next note without breaking the flow.

  • Frequent bendings
  • Smooth transitions
  • Strong control of pitch

Harmonics And Expression

The way she added harmonics with bendings stood out to me. It looked like she really enjoyed that part of playing.

Her facial expressions showed how much she felt the music—at times her eyes even gave off that “Undertaker mode” look, which I found fun to watch.

Sound Quality And Equipment

I listened using my Westone Audio Mach 30 monitors, so I could hear every detail clearly. The sound came through very clean, with a little feedback from the amp that made it feel live.

I also liked the small harp-like section she played, which added variety to the tone.

Key points I noticed:

  • Clear and live sound
  • Slight amp feedback added realism
  • Balanced solo with simple muted downstrokes

Personal Impressions

I felt really excited listening to her play. The first thing that stood out to me was her bending technique.

She used it often, and every time she added a harmonic with a bend, it felt natural and enjoyable. I also liked the way the two guitars blended at the end.

That harmonization reminded me a little of Metallica, which gave the solo a different flavor. The progression itself was simple—just muted downstrokes—but it worked well.

Her expressions caught my attention too. At some points, her eyes looked so focused, almost like “Undertaker mode,” and I could tell she was enjoying herself.

The sound came through very clear in my headphones. I could even notice a bit of feedback from the amp, which gave it a live feel.

I enjoyed the small harp-like section she added, and the way she connected big bends into the next notes.

Highlights I noticed:

  • Strong use of bendings
  • Clear harmonics
  • Harmonization between guitars
  • Expressive facial reactions
  • Clean sound with a live vibe

Comparisons And Influences

I noticed her use of bending stood out the most. The way she mixed bending with harmonics reminded me of styles I’ve heard before, and it gave her playing a unique voice.

I enjoyed how she connected those bends smoothly into the next notes. When the two guitars blended at the end, the harmonization sounded a bit like Metallica.

It wasn’t heavy, but it carried that same layered feel that made me think of their music. Her setup and the vibe of the video also gave me a sense of the 2020 era, when many players recorded from home during the pandemic.

The clear sound, the little bit of amp feedback, and her expressions while playing all added to that impression.

Key points I noticed:

  • Strong use of bending and harmonics
  • Harmonized guitar parts with a Metallica-like feel
  • Clear, live sound with slight amp feedback
  • Expressions that showed she enjoyed the performance

Final Thoughts And Future Content

I really enjoyed listening to this performance. The way she used bends stood out the most to me, especially when she added harmonics on top of them.

That combination gave the solo a unique sound that felt both expressive and clear. Her expressions while playing made the video even better.

At times, her focus reminded me of a serious stage presence, but you could also see how much she enjoyed it. The sound quality felt live, with little details like amp feedback adding to the experience.

Some parts even reminded me of Metallica, especially the harmonization between the two guitars. I also liked the short harp-like section she added, which gave the solo a different texture.

I plan to check out more of her videos soon.

Future Content Ideas:

  • Explore more of her guitar covers
  • React to her original work if available
  • Compare her style with other guitarists from the same list

Note: If you want to improve your own listening experience, I recommend the Weton Audio Mac 30. You can use the code JRuisGuitar10 for a 10% discount.

author avatar
Jone Ruiz
Jone is a classical guitarist that is creating video game music covers on guitar. He is a holder of a Master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and also attained a Bachelor’s Degree in Classical Guitar from the Interamerican University.

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