Imagine the upbeat, modern feel of dub step, but played by a classical musician. It’s beautiful, engaging, but somewhat intimidating. Unusual music like that couldn’t really exist, could it? Ladies and gentlemen, it does.

Today’s explosive discovery is none other than the semi-famous “hip hop violinist” of America’s Got Talent. If you haven’t heard of Lindsey Stirling, then you are missing one of the most intrepid and gifted musicians of our age.

A talented violinist since the age of five, Stirling caught the world’s attention when she made it to the quarter-finals of the fifth season of America’s Got Talent.

After being told that her music was unmarketable due to her overly eclectic style, she left the competition and turned her attention to marketing herself via her YouTube channel, lindseystomp.

Her first few singles flew under the radar, but she really hit the map with her interpretive cover of LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem,” which she jokingly tag lined “Violinists can shuffle too!”

Since that time, Stirling’s original and cover work has skyrocketed. She takes classical instruments and uses them for modern, exciting instrumentation.

A few of her most famous pieces such as “Elements” and “Crystallize” are a mixture of violin and dub step. She also releases cleverly staged covers of famous musical collections, such as the Legend of Zelda soundtrack, the Phantom of the Opera musical and music from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim video game.

Furthermore, the vast majority of Stirling’s YouTube releases are in professional music video format. Most of these are filmed by Stirling’s friend and cinematographer, Devin Graham.

One of Stirling’s other trademarks is her love of working with others. She often brings other artists to star in her songs and videos as vocalists and musicians.

Lindsey Stirling is more than a simple violinist, she is a full-blown performer. Her ability to create, adapt and mold music the way a potter would clay is what really makes her special.

So next time you’re looking for something new to add to your playlist, think about Stirling. Her music is available on iTunes and Spotify, or on her personal website, lindseystirlingviolin.com.