When 17-year-old Mia Morris walked onto the America’s Got Talent stage in 2022, she did not bring a traditional backing band with her.

Instead, she planned to create the music herself.

The Nashville, Tennessee, teenager introduced herself as a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist before explaining that she would perform as a one-woman band. She then used a loop pedal to build her original song, “Gone My Way,” layer by layer.

Mia Morris’ AGT Audition

Mia Morris was 17 years old and a high school student when she auditioned for America’s Got Talent Season 17.

She told the judges that she was from Nashville, Tennessee, and described herself as a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Her goal was not simply to sing an existing hit. She wanted to perform one of her own songs while creating much of the musical arrangement herself.

That made the audition unusual from the beginning.

Instead of standing behind a microphone while a band played behind her, Morris planned to build the accompaniment herself.

She Became a One-Woman Band

Morris used a loop pedal to create layers of sound during the performance.

She began building the musical foundation before adding more instruments, vocals and percussion. Coverage of the audition notes that she incorporated guitar, bass and drums while continuing to sing.

The technique allowed Morris to create the feeling of a full musical arrangement while performing largely by herself on stage.

Her use of looping was an important part of the performance because each new musical layer became part of the next section.

“Gone My Way” Was an Original Song

Morris chose to perform an original song rather than a familiar cover.

The song was titled “Gone My Way,” and the official AGT description specifically identifies it as her original song. The same description highlights the originality and 1990s-inspired feel of the performance.

Choosing original material can make a talent-show audition particularly revealing because the performer is presenting not only vocal or instrumental ability, but also their own songwriting and musical identity.

Morris used the audition to showcase both.

The Judges React to Her Musical Style

The performance received positive reactions from the judges.

Howie Mandel praised Morris and called her a star, while Sofia Vergara described her as one of the coolest performers on the stage. Simon Cowell offered more mixed feedback, saying parts of the performance were messy but explaining that the raw, imperfect quality was part of what he liked about it.

The judges ultimately agreed on the most important part of the audition.

All four judges voted yes, allowing Morris to advance in the competition.

Why the Loop Pedal Made the Audition Different

The loop pedal was more than a technical accessory.

It allowed Morris to construct the accompaniment while performing. Instead of relying on a pre-recorded backing track or a traditional band, she could create musical layers herself and then perform over them.

Morris described the device as being like a “recording studio” at her feet, according to coverage of the audition.

That approach gave viewers an opportunity to see how the performance was assembled rather than simply hearing the finished song.

A Young Multi-Instrumentalist From Nashville

Morris came to AGT from Nashville, a city strongly associated with music and songwriting.

Before appearing on the show, she had already been performing for years. Local coverage reported that she had started performing at a young age and played several instruments, including drums, ukulele, bass, guitar and piano.

Her AGT audition therefore represented more than a single singing performance. It showcased songwriting, vocals, rhythm and multiple instrumental skills at the same time.

That combination helped make her audition distinctive.

Mia Morris Moves Forward on AGT

The four yes votes sent Morris through the audition stage.

She was subsequently selected to advance to the semifinals, according to season records.

Her AGT journey demonstrated how a performer could stand out without relying on a conventional arrangement. Morris brought her own song, her own instruments and a performance method built around live looping.

Final Thoughts

Mia Morris’ America’s Got Talent audition stands out because she essentially created her own band on stage.

At just 17, the Nashville singer-songwriter performed her original song “Gone My Way” while using a loop pedal and multiple instruments to build the musical arrangement around herself.

The judges ultimately gave her four yes votes, allowing her to continue in the competition.

For fans of original music, multi-instrumentalists and creative AGT auditions, Mia Morris’ performance is a memorable example of how technology and musicianship can come together in a live talent-show performance.