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.

Under Violet

Under Violet’s October release, Orchard, is a tranquil folk record with hints of indie rock and classic country. The band’s third album is composed of simply strummed acoustic guitars, smooth pedal steel, and crisp drum snares. “Clouds” is ambient Americana, “Migration” brings in the blues, and “Orchard” stands out for its intoxicating vocal harmonies. The Cactus Blossoms even jump in for back-up vocals on “Sunflower.” Lead vocalist and principal songwriter Sara Bischoff sings of hope and enduring love in a peaceful and patient voice. The album is a mix of songs written up to more than a decade ago but never recorded, and others that materialized during the recording process. Fortunately, the older songs came back to life. -MR

Kaatwalk

Twin Cities-based singer-songwriter Kaatwalk describes her music as a “blend of heartfelt lyrics and a stripped-down authentic sound.” Outside of Kaatwalk’s solo work, she is one half of the duo Marv and Kaat and is also part of the group The Holy North. The track “Stop the Rain” is her fifth solo release, and it’s a sweet and mellow reflection on wanting to comfort a loved one from the past. The song is full of nostalgia, storytelling, and warmth. You can catch Marv and Kaat performing on Saturday, Nov. 8, at The Chart House Restaurant in Lakeville. -NT

Now, Now

Beloved Minneapolis indie-rock duo Now, Now is back with new music after an extended break. KC Dalager and Brad Hale recently surprise-released a four-song EP called 01, the follow-up to their 2018 studio album, Saved. During the band’s hiatus, KC Dalager released her own solo project in 2023, Think I’m Gonna Die, which Hale helped produce. The 01 track “About You” creates a cinematic soundscape about the experience of wanting to let go of an unhealthy connection. Although the chorus repeats “I don’t wanna write another song about you” over and over, it is exciting that Now, Now gifted us with these new songs. -NT

ladyslipper

Six-piece Minneapolis band ladyslipper played their first show in October. And now Leila Elouardighi (lead vocals), Henry Wisti (guitar and vocals), Isaac Fladung (drums), Kaiden Dreis (bass), and Alex Waibel (guitar) have released a two-track single, which suggests a promising trajectory. The self-proclaimed “soulgaze” band’s euphoric noise is created with delayed, heavy guitar pedal sounds. “remora” begins with meditative strings and rapidly transitions into thumping basslines. “foxhole” comes with a bridge of urgent crashing drums before easing up. Despite a swamp of grungy textures, the ethereal sounds don’t get pushed to the wayside. -MR

Exxe

Exxe’s new album, Hxxrts, finds the Twin Cities-based singer exploring the intersections of alt-pop-rock and R&B. Hip-hop elements shine in songs like “Simp.” Think the Weeknd or Yves Tumor. The standout song is “Devils in Designer,” in which the artist sings about the all-too-relevant dangers of materialism and how they can impede the ability to make meaningful connections. “You know the devils in designer / so tell me can you take the heat,” he sings over some glistening guitar work. -MR 

Of the Orchard

With traces of Motion City Soundtrack filtered into their work, Of the Orchard have returned for the first time in two years with a new single, “Good Good Feeling.” The rapport between friends is captured in a track that quantifies the relationship and produces a melodic, playful, and exploratory sonic essay. It’s a nod to the past with a twist of the future that’ll have you wishing you could still be sweating your feelings out in the poorly ventilated Station 4 in Lowertown, St. Paul. There are three chances to catch Of the Orchard live in the next month or so: Nov. 15 at Memory Lanes, Nov. 21 at PILLLAR Forum Cafe, and Dec. 7 at Amsterdam Bar and Hall. -YV

Hyooman

In the early 2010s, singer/guitarist Leng Moua cut his teeth in the Minneapolis pop-punk band Venus on Fire, but these days he’s taking the lead and writing new work for Hyooman. Moua and bandmates Victor Pokorny, Dillon Marchus, Elise Bremer, and McCoy Seitz draw inspiration from Pavement, Alex G, and the Strokes. “In Your World” opens their latest album and gives a sonic taste that’s edgy, psychedelic, and dangerous. Hyooman will celebrate the release of their album, Nothing New, at Zhora Darling on Friday, Nov. 14, with Absolutely Yours and Known Moons. -YV

French Brigade

French Brigade is a brand-new Minneapolis artistic collective. Their debut album, Here’s Your Flowers, is an impressively varied full-length album that dabbles in different genres, from glitchy pop to alternative rock. The group’s name is inspired by the French brigade kitchen system — a collaborative effort that’s stronger together than anyone would be alone. The project began as a creative outlet for Lucas Holz, Jonah Hansen, and Duncan Seltzer. As the trio of friends produced the album, more of their associates jumped in to contribute, adding a diversity of influences and styles to the album. Features include Twin Cities musicians Daniel Lubi (LUBI) and Bob Kabeya (Miloe), Plaiqu Jones, Brandon Tang, Katie Hawke, and Will Langason. French Brigade is currently working on a visual album film, so stay tuned for more exciting work from this group. -AD

Sanni B.

You might recognize the name Sanni Brown if you tune in to The Message on The Current or Carbon Sound. A radio veteran with a super recognizable voice, Brown is a multi-hyphenate artist. The Chicago native has been in the Twin Cities since 1993 and has years of experience in radio, television, voice work, and much more. This past August, she released Late Bloomer: The Making of Big Cutie, after graduating from Pendulum Ink, an online rap school featuring industry experts teaching the art and business of hip-hop. This project showcases the lyrical skills as well as Sanni’s vocal range. “Rock With Me” is a no-apologies declaration of committing to one’s growth, even if it’s alone. -NT

Steve Tibbetts

Steve Tibbetts is a Wisconsin-born, Minnesota-based composer, guitarist and a 2024 ACF McKnight Composer Fellow. “We Begin Pt. 3” is a dazzling ambient track from his recent record, Close. This is Tibbetts’ 16th release since he began recording music in 1976 during his time at Macalester College in St. Paul. “Music is as close to magic as we mortals have…Music is a twilight language. The job is to translate shadow into sound,” says Tibbetts, on creating the album. Close was recorded by Tibbetts in St. Paul, with drums by Minneapolis musician JT Bates and mastering by Greg Reierson (Rare Form Mastering). Additional production and mastering credits include Manfred Eicher (Munich, Germany) and Christoph Stickel (Vienna, Austria). Fans of classical and ambient genres may enjoy Steve Tibbetts’ discography. -AD