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 7 p.m. to midnight, hosted by Diane, or check out our Spotify playlist, updated every week. In April 2025, The Current compiled the second Minnesota Music Month Scouting Report with votes from the local music industry.

Young Dervish

Who is Young Dervish, you ask? Well, if you have been keeping up with the Minnesota music scene in the last few years, you already know him. Zak Khan, also known as Young Dervish, has been producing music and collaborating with numerous artists around the Twin Cities for many years. Khan plays in at least four bands, including Honeybutter, and is a sought-after guitarist and producer. This time, Khan is taking center stage with a four-song EP called Jellymaster out now, and a debut album, Fretless Sex, set to be released Wednesday, Aug. 13. The album release also includes a sweet giveaway of a Jellycaster guitar built by Khan himself. Check out Young Dervish on Instagram for more information. -NT

Nur-D

A nod to Prince and his legacy, singer-rapper Nur-D’s new single “Purple in the Sky” gets you on the dance floor and grooving. One of the busiest artists in the Twin Cities, Nur-D keeps reinventing himself as a performer and musician. This song, which comes off of his latest album, Chunkadelic, you get a sense of something vast and personal slowly becoming aware of itself. The music moves between intimacy and transcendence to gives a glimpse of his cinematic world. Nur-D will play at Franconia Sculpture Park on Saturday, Aug. 16, for their Summer Concert Series. -YV

Luca Louise

Minneapolis-based Luca Louise is a noteworthy newcomer. The singer/songwriter has a delicate, airy voice and intimate lyrics about human connectivity and emotional reflection. Louise has released just three singles — one in 2023 and two this year — including the indie-folk single “LUCY.” The song’s driving guitar and staccato violin evoke a cross between Lucy Dacus and Lord Huron. Louise’s ties to indie rock and folk music took shape in the backseat of her parents’ car, where she’d absorbed the sounds of cult-following underground bands such as The Weakerthans. Luca Louise is set to release her first EP this month. -Diane

Emanuel Carter

You might recognize the name Emanuel Carter from a Carbon Sound feature back in January. If you’re unfamiliar, Carter has been active in the Twin Cities R&B world since 2021. Not only does Carter have a silky-smooth voice, but he also produces all his music. “DROP” is from his latest EP, Untitled, released in July. According to Carter’s Instagram, with this project he had the time and space to explore new sounds. -NT

Jaya Kellogg

Jaya Kellogg is an up-and-coming artist who recently finished high school in Inver Grove Heights. Her very first single, “Background Noise,” showcases Kellogg’s full voice and harmonies. Not much is known (yet) of this artist. She plans to attend Anderson University in South Carolina to study commercial music. -NT

The Riffin’ Trio

Three exceptional instrumentalists who service many of the most influential local musicians (Bon Iver, The Cactus Blossoms, Aby Wolf, and more) have united in the name of good, old-fashioned riffing — hence the name, The Riffin’ Trio. Saxophonist Nelson Devereaux, guitarist Jacob Hanson, and bassist Ted Olsen first gathered this side project designed for a fun dive bar hang at Dusty’s in Northeast Minneapolis. They cover midcentury pop and jazz standards, which influence the wide-ranging trio’s original jazz tunes. Their first EP, Introducing The Riffin’ Trio, will be released Aug. 15, accompanied by a release show at Turf Club. -Diane

Keri Noble

Keri Noble returns for her first full-length album in more than a decade with Back to Life. It’s her most vulnerable work yet. The single “Lazarus” is a captivating, heartfelt masterpiece that keeps you wrapped up in emotion. Noble’s delicate yet powerful vocal delivery creates a poignant story that draws listeners in. Noble worked with Matt Patrick at The Library Studio to build the perfect mix for this album. Noble will perform in St. Cloud on Oct. 4 at Pioneer Place on Fifth. -YV

Mouthful

Mouthful’s recent single, “love you forever,” is a cozy soft indie rock song with wholesome lyrics about yearning and wanting to hold onto the special people in your life. Initially inspired by artists such as Julia Jacklin and Haley Heynderickx, lead singer and songwriter Bean Bastounes has found that playing alongside bandmates Brandon Burmeister (bass), Spencer Heller (drums), and Chloe Penny (guitar) has welcomed the project into different genre directions. For more, check out the band’s EP from February, I Am Trying to Be a Pool. We can’t wait to hear what sonic choices they explore next. -AD

Dylan Hicks & Small Screens

Originally from Austin, Texas, singer-songwriter Dylan Hicks has been based in Minneapolis since 1983 and releasing music since the ’90s. “Moth and Rust” is a single from Hicks’ upcoming album, Avian Field Recordings, set to release on Aug. 12. Fellow Twin Cities musicians helped bring this beautiful song to life. Accompanying Hicks’ vocals and piano is Christopher Thomson (tenor sax), Michelle Kinney (cello), Zacc Harris (guitar), Dan Carpel (bass), and Peter Hennig (drums). “Moth and Rust” sits somewhere between jazz, folk and Americana, and Hicks calls it a protest song. His discography also explores electronic music, R&B, and country rock, and he regularly collaborates with bassist John Munson. -AD

Annie and the Bang Bang

Part indie-rock and part punk, with a dash of pop blended in, Annie and the Bang Bang keep pushing the limits on their sound. “Say You Believe” mixes dreamy folk-pop textures with raw punk energy. The song is about taking ownership of their story and the choices that shaped them as artists. “Say You Believe” talks about the pressure to keep it together even when your world is coming apart. Annie and the Bang Bang will play the Central Park Bandshell in Red Wing as part of the Red Wing Arts Concerts in the Park series on Wednesday, Aug. 20. -YV