Hiromi Uehara.
So I was on youtube, looking up Kung-Fu videos half way into 2007. I came across some video called "Kung-Fu World Champion", so I openned it up, and had a look. It had nothing to do with martial arts, but DAMN, if it wasn't a funky groove. I had a listen, and watched the video, becoming addicted to this strange, new sound. Looking for more by the same artist, I came to find a piece called "Deep Into the Night". It was emotional, beautiful, but still retained a level of technical prowess rarely found. The combination of such emotional AND such technical playing was something I'd never witnessed. Falling in love with the youtube version of this piece, it was there and then that I decided I wanted to cut down on trumpet playing, and really focus on piano playing. It's pretty much thanks to Hiromi that I'm headed for WAAPA.
The Idea of North (TIoN)
...is an amazing a capella group, from Canberra, Australia. Being the net-geek that I am, like Hiromi, I came across TIoN on youtube. I then realised they were coming to perform here in perth, so I took the chance to go and see them live.
Un
Be
Lievable.
These guys blew my mind. I'd heard good singing before, and yet still nothing of this calibur. To clumsily quote gaiden88 on youtube, "They stole my soul from me. jesus is not happy."
They are amazing singers, performers, and seem to be amazing individuals.
The Dalai Lama
He seems to be a bit of a dude. I think it'd be great to speak with him, lots of learning to be done.
Everyone else
Countless of other musicians, martial artists, philosophers and even titleless (is that a word?), amazing and inspirational individuals.