Welcome to The Scouting Report, a monthly list of 10 Minnesota artists with exciting new projects, as curated by our local music team. If you like these picks, check out The Local Show on Sundays from 6 to 8 p.m., hosted by Diane. For more music discovery from The Current, watch for Jeffrey Bissoy's The Come-Up, highlighting new local hip-hop and more. Also, each Thursday, The Current's music director Jade picks great new tracks from around the world.

Tysm!

pronouns: he/him

I could listen to Tysm!’s 2019 song “Don’t F*** Wit The Birds” all day — and from its 740,000 plays on Spotify, I’d guess I’m not the only one. The song’s chopped vocal samples, pirouetting piano, and booming bass take me back to Kanye West’s Graduation. But in an effort to serve up something a little more FCC-friendly, I’ll direct your attention to Tysm!’s newest single “OUT OF MY MIND,” a cut from his upcoming project EGO. “OUT OF MY MIND” is about “the thrill of being with someone new and the confusing addiction that comes with it.” Tysm!, aka Elijah Mason, will open for Landon Conrath at the 7th St Entry on Feb. 10. The tie that binds them? Alex Kimball, a producer who also plays in Papa Mbye’s live band. - Cecilia Johnson

Ber

pronouns: she/her

Ber (pronounced “bear”) is the stage name of Berit Dybing (BEAR-it DIE-bing), a singer-songwriter who grew up in Bemidji, then went to college at Leeds Conservatoire in England. She made it back to Minnesota during the pandemic, and she’s been staying with family in a Minneapolis basement as she’s watched her star rise internationally. Relatable and melodic songs like “Meant to Be” (a collaboration with Charlie Oriain), “I’m Not in Love,” and the post-quarantine crush celebration “Feels So Easy” have been landing on popular Spotify and Apple Music playlists, getting BBC airplay, and (needless to say) going viral on TikTok. This spring Ber is headed to SXSW, where she’ll make her live debut; she’s hoping to play some hometown shows this summer. Watch for a profile on our website this Friday, Feb. 11. - Jay Gabler

C∆IRNS

pronouns: he/they

A promising young electronic artist, C∆IRNS (Hill Cairns) writes tasteful music with psychedelic elements driven by delicate reverb and peaceful singing. Hanging under the radar since 2014, C∆IRNS won American Young Composers Award in 2015 for his single “The Disconnect” and has been actively releasing new music ever since. The 2021 release “Sagitario” featuring vocalist Mila La Morena is especially outstanding, blending elements of pop, Latin music and electronica.  -Diane

RiGBY

band

I’m never going to be mad about a punk band with femme vocals, especially when they sound as good as RiGBY. The St. Paul crew released their first album, We’re Dying, last year. They’ll open for Bruise Violet at the 7th St Entry on Feb. 15. - Cecilia Johnson

Ricki Monique

pronouns: she/her

Based in Minneapolis, Ricki Monique has always been a storyteller, and that’s just one of her talents. She’s also an organizer, co-founder of the Tangible Collective: an organization dedicated to “holding spaces where black thought is valued, encouraged, and centered to make it tangible.” She started releasing music in 2018; her latest, “Immortal,” is a hip-hop collaboration with yourbeautifulruin that showcases Monique’s lyrical gifts and poignant perspective. - Jay Gabler

Nat Harvie

pronouns: they/them

A singer, songwriter and storyteller akin to Jens Lekman or Patrick Wolf, Duluth’s very own Nat Harvie’s latest record Married in Song gives listeners the gift of sincerity. They open up about vulnerable topics such as divorce and pair with the realness of being human. The tone of the record, co-produced by Zoo Animal’s Holly Hanson, is just right. It centralizes Harvie’s voice with a harmonious backdrop of both organic and electronic instruments, including horns, guitar and synth.  - Diane

Clemy

pronouns: they/them

Sally Rooney’s intimate novel Normal People inspired a TV adaptation and this song by Minneapolis-based artist Clemy, aka Sean Clements. Clements, who also performs in killusonline, worked with Why Not’s Henry Breen to swirl together bedroom pop lyrics, hyperpop vocals, and drum and bass rhythms. They promise to release more singles soon. - Cecilia Johnson

Scrunchies

band

Scrunchies, the hard-rocking Minneapolis band hailed (by us) as a “supergroup” when they debuted in 2018, are back with a new lineup, a new single, and soon a new album. Co-founders Laura Larson (Kitten Forever) and Danielle Cusack (Bruise Violet) are now joined by bassist Matt Castore; “No Home Planet” is the lead single from their sophomore album Feral Coast, due out on April 1 — and that’s no joke. Later in April, Scrunchies will be in Winona as part of a stacked Mid West Music Fest lineup. - Jay Gabler

Chris Castino

pronouns: he/him

Chris Castino is a Minnesota music legend, but not many know of him: a singer/guitarist and co-founder of the 30-year-old Minnesota jam-rock band The Big Wu. His latest, Fresh Pickles, is an Americana-bluegrass record that features a long list of world-class musicians including Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Vince Herman, Nick Forster, Tim O'Brien, Peter Rowan and Keller Williams. Deadheads and fast-picking instrumentalist fans – unite! - Diane

The Nunnery

pronouns: she/her

The Nunnery’s Sarah Elstran has a rare and special talent for live looping over her own voice. The talent is rare indeed as it requires ability to precisely match pitch and rhythm in order to create layers of harmonies and beats to smoothly sing over. The one-woman band records her music just like she plays it live, and sometimes collaborates with other Minnesota standouts like Dosh, Al Church and Humbird. Her new record “Floating Gardens” is a delicate and beautiful indie-pop art piece. Fans of Sylvan Esso and Esme Patterson will find familiarity and comfort in Elstran’s slightly quirky but oh-so pleasant voice. -Diane