Jazz isn’t normally my thing, but I’ll make the odd exception for crossover artists like Norah Jones or Madeline Peyroux. So, when an email about Melody Gardot landed in my inbox the other day, I almost passed it by, fearing that I didn’t have the vocabulary or understanding of the genre to write a few pithy words about this new – to me, at least – artist.

At this point, however, I feel like I’ve totally immersed myself in Gardot’s art and music. Her story is something unique and utterly inspiring. Knocked down while out cycling, Melody suffered severe head, spine and pelvis injuries. However, the accident also left her hyper-sensitive to light and sound, which for a musician must be a devastating thing to have to deal with. In this interview with Anthony Mason, Melody talks about living each day in constant pain.

Listen to her music though, and Gardot will instantly enrapture you with her smooth, crooning voice. My wife and I listened to some of the tracks on her website the other day and fell in love with the rich, bluesy tones on Who Will Comfort Me among others. This is the kind of joyous music that comes from people who love to make music. There’s an overwhelming sense of musicianship, from the bent-string double bass grooves to the growling trumpet and deft touches of Hammond organ. It’s beautiful music.

Gardot has recently released the video for her new single, Mira. If everything I’ve been obsessively reading about Gardot is true, then Mira is the perfect expression of this amazing woman’s spirit. A self-described “citizen of the world”, Gardot sings the lyrics partially in Spanish to the beat of a lively samba backing. It feels cosmopolitan, elegant, romantic and sexy all at once. The accompanying video is the perfect companion for the music – it’s drowned in vibrant colour, flickering between all manner of exotic locations while Melody enjoys a romantic liaison with her on-screen lover. And the footage of kids in Rio de Janeiro painting, flying kites and playing evokes an idyllic lifestyle that I could just fall in love with.

It’s so rare to find an artist who can paint such beautiful pictures with her music. Melody Gardot is a true treasure and totally deserving of your attention. Want to see more? Check out her YouTube channel or follow her on Twitter.