Finding new music is such a sacred and personal procedure, and something that feels so gratifying when it happens by accident, kind of like everything else in life. It might be when you’re stuck in traffic, listening to the radio or during your favorite television show or soundtrack to a film or when you’re dilly dallying online.

Of course, friends always exchange music with other friends, but there have been plenty of instances when someone has given me music, which I’ve listened to and liked, but that I don’t “discover” myself until weeks later when I hear it randomly during one of the aforementioned scenarios. It’s like a late reaction, kind of like when you hit your toe on a corner and the throbbing pain doesn’t reach you until after a few seconds.

For example, a few months ago I sent my boyfriend a Fleet Foxes song that I really liked and it wasn’t until a few weeks ago that he heard it one day on t.v. and decided he loved it. This is why I say that the act of discovering new music is so deeply introverted. For some reason this type of discovery doesn’t necessarily apply to film or books as much as it does to music.

Kitty, Daisy and Lewis, Mamer, Choir of Young Believers and Zee Avi are a few new favorite musicians of mine that I’ve accidentally discovered.

Kitty, Daisy and Lewis - When you listen to this three person rockabilly/rock n’ roll/swing/[insert music from the 40s and 50s here] band, you’ll be transported back to the days of Elvis, amazing vintage fashions and all the nostalgia you can muster up. The best part? Kitty, Daisy and Lewis are 16, 21 and 19 respectively, which makes them just that much cooler to listen to. They are everything I would aspire to be if I was a musician, right down to what they wear and the equipment they use, which is  8 track tape machines and vintage BBC and RCA microphones, by the way.

Mean Son of a Gun – Kitty, Daisy and Lewis

Mamer – Growing up 2,000 miles away from Beijing by the borders of Russia and Kazakhstan in the grasslands certainly has a great influence on Mamer’s music, carrying with the themes like “the nature of man, the delicate balance of man and the temptations of modernity.” Make no mistake, Mamer’s music really can’t be categorized. While listening, you might ask yourself, “Ok, but where does this fit into music.” The beauty is that by the end, you wont really care. Signed to Peter Gabriel’s “Real World Records,” Mamer uses the dombra, a long-necked lute that is popular in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. His strong voice is paired perfectly with the folk melodies he sings against.

Choir of Young Believers – Hailing from Denmark, Choir of Young Believers is the brainchild of 24-year-old singer-songwriter Jannis Noya Makrigiannis. Their music is haunting and just plain cool. The interesting thing about this band is that their performances vary in size – at times you might see all 10 members will appear on stage or you might be treated to a solo performance by Jannis himself. Infectious and intelligent pop music is one way I would describe the “Choir.” They sound like a combination of Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver put together and as far as I’m concerned, that can’t be a bad thing.

Photo by Autumn de Wilde

Zee Avi - Oh Zee Avi, what can I say about this stunning new singer from Malaysia who was more or less discovered on YouTube. Just a girl and her guitar, Zee Avi is what I like to call “music that makes me smile.” I suppose she does for me, what pop singers like Colbie Caillat with their annoying and cheesy song lyrics do for those who listen to top 40 exclusively. Plus, she’s covered Morrissey’s “First of the Gang to Die,” which is an automatic free pass into my world of cool. Her debut single “Bitter Heart” will totally put you in a good mood.