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.

Aida Shahghasemi 

Aida Shahghasemi sounds more powerful than ever on her new album, Chashmandaaze Rooydaad. Shahghasemi, who moved from Iran to Minnesota at 13 years old, sings in Farsi and is supported by a crew of world-class musicians, including locals Jeremy Ylvisaker and Liz Draper. In the song “Gooy,” piano notes — soft yet undeniable as raindrops — warn of a coming storm. Yahya Alkhansa uses brushes, then sharper rim shots, on the drums. As cellist Jacqueline Ultan bows faster and faster, Shahghasemi throws her voice to the skies. It’s an awe-inspiring piece. Shahghasemi told Marla Khan-Schwartz about the political and social meanings behind her music in a recent Sahan Journal article. - Cecilia Johnson

Luigi Franco

Having moved from Guayaquil, Ecuador, to Minneapolis in 2018, producer/singer Luigi Franco debuted with his three-song EP Igual in July. The title track — a simple composition with layers of deep synths, strong reverb and dreamy vocals — proves sometimes less is more. A fan of experimental sounds and melodic voices, Franco is inspired by artists like Aurora and Years and Years, plus indie bands from his home country. He is currently in Ecuador promoting his project and a new song that is on the way. - Natalia Toledo 

Anita Velveeta

According to TikTok, Anita Velveeta wrote her latest single, “Nothing Without You,” about actor Steve Buscemi. No, actually, it’s about Tiamat, the five-headed dragon from Dungeons & Dragons. OK, it’s actually about her fans. Whatever its meaning, the newly released hyperpop/emo song has already amassed 15,000 plays on Spotify – and counting. Her diehard social media following has something to do with that, but we can also thank her great ear for mixing chaotic noises into one solid track. She uses the same skill in her band Alien Book Club and her gnarly DJ/Girl Talk-style mix-and-matchup TikTok videos. - Diane 

Yellow Ostrich

Alex Schaaf has been composing jangly, lo-fi indie music as Yellow Ostrich for more than 10 years. The band’s new single, “Muscle Memory,” might be their most electronic composition yet. The nearly percussion-less synth track is stylized with a simple melody. Overlaying arpeggiated notes swirl around Schaaf’s gentle singing voice. It’s also worth noting that Schaaf, new to the Minneapolis community, has been a touring member of the renowned Swedish indie-folk project The Tallest Man on Earth. - Diane 

Bobby Rethwish

What do you get if you cross a revving engine with video game power-up noises and a Top 40-ready tenor? Something like the magnificent effect of Bobby Rethwish’s “Cause for Celebration.” This band recently headlined a mega-pop show at the 7th St Entry, and we're sorry we missed it. Join us at the next one. - Cecilia Johnson 

The Violet Nines

“Dancing with Fire” is the brand-new single from Minneapolis band the Violet Nines. Their sound is self-described as “groove pop; rhythm-centric alternative fused with funk, rock and R&B,” and their new single is just that. It’s upbeat and fun, with a catchy hook plus an awesome saxophone solo. “Dancing with Fire” reminds us of the dangers of falling for someone who is no good for us and being down to get burned anyway. The video for the single will arrive Aug. 12 on their YouTube channel. - Natalia Toledo 

BdotCroc

BdotCroc is someone whose career, along with her songs, are in a slow simmer. The music starts subtly and leads into emotional tracks that get under your skin and stick. BdotCroc is a conduit for stories of heartache, and in her new song, “Love Is,” she tells of struggles of a relationship outside of the public eye. Her work is vulnerable and immediate, with the shine and sudden prickle of pain in life. Above all, it’s honest and genuine – everything laid bare. - Youa Vang 

The Controversial New ‘Skinny Pill’

“On playgrounds, we encounter profound wisdom,” John Fitch and Max Frenzel write in their book Time Off. The Controversial New ‘Skinny Pill’ have made a musical playground in “Tonguetied,” which bubbles with plinky synths and funky lil’ bass notes. And you know what? We’re detecting some profound wisdom. It’s one of our favorite singles from this Twin Cities band. - Cecilia Johnson

Tufawon

Tapping into his Boricua roots, Minneapolis rapper, singer, and producer Tufawon gives us a peek into his new album with “Heat Wave.” It’s a perfect dancehall jam for the last hot months of the year in Minnesota. Born out of a recent heartbreak, his self-produced project Until the Sun Comes Up was just released. It is a smooth mix of reggaeton and dancehall, layered with Tufawon’s newest venture into singing. A broken heart can make or break us, and in this case, it pushed Tufawon past artistic boundaries to explore a brand-new sound. - Natalia Toledo

Guytano

Mixed by Jon Gilmore, who has worked with the 1975, Guytano’s latest single has a new edge that’s an overstimulation of the senses. “She Knows” tells of excess and losing everything in Las Vegas. Brothers Grant and Eddie Hamilton and friends Isaac Hesse and Colter Benoit first formed a band in middle school in Sartell, Minnesota. The latest EP, Emerald Drive, released July 15, is stuffed with lust for life and beautiful harmonies. It hits you like a strong sea breeze: salty, gritty, refreshing, and alive. - Youa Vang