A number of Twin Cities musicians are using their creative platforms to speak out about the expanding presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Local tensions have increased significantly since Wednesday, Jan. 7, when Minneapolis resident Renee Macklin Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent.

Note: Our colleagues at MPR News are creating widespread coverage of immigration enforcement in Minnesota that can deepen your understanding of this serious issue.

The songs inspired by the current moment that have emerged take different approaches, from an earnest call for compassion from chamber pop group Cloud Cult to an expletive-laden message from jeremy messersmith.

jeremy messersmith, “F*** This”: Let’s just get this one out of the way. Armed with his ukelele and a string arrangement by Dan Lawonn, messersmith unloads the f-bombs on the situation and the parties involved. He’s working on turning it into a collaborative effort by offering up a lyric sheet and an uncensored version of the track, and inviting vocalists to send in a file to be added to a “giant choir version” of the song. The bleeps keep coming in the Instagram video of the song seen below.

Laamar, “Who Is She to You?”: Geoffrey Lamar Wilson focuses his song on remembering Renee Good. Performed during his set opening for Yam Haus at First Avenue on Jan. 10, the somber song features Wilson asking pointed questions to the ICE agent who killed Good, and later calling out her bravery. Laamar is planning to hit the studio to record this song in the coming days.

Durry, “Told You So”: Durry frontman Austin Durry says he has been working on “Told You So” for the past decade. It was inspired by a family dispute firmly along political party lines. “Someday you’re gonna wake up to the future you created / I know you’ll never change but / I hope I’m there to say I told you so,” he sings.

bathtub cig, “Untitled”: Accompanied by an acoustic guitar, Hilary James sings, “We’ve got whistles, they’ve got bombs / I’m so sick of writing protest songs.” James — who also plays with We Are the Willows, Esme Patterson, and Matt Pond PA/The Natural Lines — recorded the song from a hotel room on the first day of a new tour.

Cloud Cult, “Compassion”: Found exclusively on the indie collective’s Patreon page, “Compassion” is from the point of view of a person driving their kid to school and passing a series of characters divided by different belief systems. Craig Minowa’s lyrics look for the common ground between “a woman in a red hat and man in a tie dye.” Meanwhile, “the kids in your backseat are watching your every move / Will you be the kind of parent you wish you had?”

A few more, submitted by members of the music community:

Shruthi Rajasekar - “Feeling slightly better singing with you”

John Louis - “Unmarked Vans”

Robyn Jamner - “Heart Break”

Randy Sabien - “We Have Whistles”

Want to share a song you’ve written about the present moment? Email digitalmusic [at] thecurrent.org.