I've been feeling a bit stagnant for a few months not being able to talk about music with anyone. I don't know about the rest of you, but the way I've always discovered new artists/bands/etc is more through word of mouth than anything else. Hearing something off the TV or the radio is good. Hearing some song in the background of a TV show, movie or a really good commercial (Richard Bruckner's song in that old VW Touareg Commercial, or the Nick Drake song in the other VW Golf commercial anyone?) is better. Finding something through a random link that showed up in a search for something else is wonderful. But best of all are the little artists, the locals or not so locals that you find out about through a friend, or a friend of a friend. The discoveries made and treasured, but not often enough shared.
So, my goal for this thread - tell me your little known loves, but not only that - I don't just want a random list of artists - link me to them. A website, a YouTube video, a myspace page - something where the rest of us can actually hear the artist you're talking about. Tell me about them - why has this particular artist become one of your loves.
It doesn't matter what kind of genre it is - let's share some music!