“It could have been Jimi Hendrix, could have been all these other things, but weirdly enough, no”: Willow Smith reveals the unassuming album – and actor – that inspired her to pick up the guitar

Willow Smith performs at Little Caesars Arena on August 17, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan.

Family legacy aside, it's safe to say that Willow has evolved into a bona fide boundary-pushing artist who seamlessly flits between genres, both across and within records. In 2021, her single Transparent Soul turned heads not only for its pop-punk energy, but also because Willow was very much in her electric guitar-wielding era.

Fast forward four years, and through her subsequent albums, Willow has shown that the instrument remains an integral part of her core sonic palette. However, as she reveals in a new interview with Rick Beato, her guitar journey started long before that career-defining single.