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 9 p.m., hosted by Diane, or check out our Spotify playlist, updated every week. In April 2026, The Current compiled the third Minnesota Music Month Scouting Report with votes from the local music industry.

Miloe

Miloe, real name Bobby Kabeya, was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and grew up with musical parents who taught him how to play the piano at an early age. The family moved to Minnesota when he was eight years old, and he picked up even more instruments through after-school programs. Miloe came to be officially in 2017, combining his musical upbringing and the inspiration of local legends like Husker Dü, the Replacements, Prince, and more. Miloe has been releasing music and playing shows throughout the Twin Cities ever since, and has been a featured performer on some of the biggest stages. He recently released a couple of singles, including the track “COMA!” Rumor has it, there’s more music on the way very soon. Follow Miloe on Instagram to stay up to date. -NT

Tuffie

Tuffie was formed in 2026 by musicians already intertwined in the Twin Cities music scene. Vocalist Ava Levy is joined by guitarist Maxwell Folina (killusonline), drummer Sean Clements (killusonline), and bassist Madeline Sash to create a loud alt-rock sound embellished with a shoegaze shine. “Eraser” is the lead single from the band’s upcoming debut, a self-titled EP. The song features Levy’s gentle voice floating on top of gritty guitar strings and pummeling drums in the driving chorus. Performed live, power-pop elements jump out to generate an energetic show. The Tuffie EP comes out on June 9 via Sunday Drive Records, and a release show follows at Pilllar Forum in Minneapolis on Thursday, June 11. Tickets here. -MR

Willem Dafoe Fan Club

Willem Dafoe Fan Club is a Duluth-based band comprised of Hollis Sparhawk on vocals, drums, and omnichord; Noah Ruona on vocals and guitar; Angel Marshall on bass; and Kenneth Bressler on synth. The band first emerged in late 2023, known for their haunting sound. The slowcore/shoegaze band recently released their album Be My Muse, which includes the track “Murder” – a dark and hypnotic song, seemingly about navigating grief. Willem Dafoe Fan Club will be performing at Cloudland Theater on Friday, July 10. Give the band a follow on their Instagram to stay up to date on upcoming music and shows. -NT

Static Panic

The Minneapolis band Static Panic returned in May with their first music since 2021. On the funky single, “One,” the band revives picks right back up with a jazzy, synth-heavy production style. Punchy electronic sounds with the rapidly repeated words, “I could be the one” introduce the song, followed by claps and snaps of synthesizers accompanying a straightforward message of destiny. The track ends as abruptly as it begins. It’s a short and sweet tune that leaves a listener eager for more. -MR

Killed by Kiwis

Killed by Kiwis’ new single, "Johnny Utah," is a thrillingly serrated slice of '90s alt-rock revivalism that avoids easy nostalgia. Frankie Carlson and Griffin Baumann trade jagged, distortion-heavy riffs that evoke In Utero-era Nirvana crashing a dark, synthy Metric warehouse party. Annie Thoma’s vocals are the track’s volatile center. Backed by Quinn Siebers’ bruising drums and Matt Healy’s lockstep bass, the track charges forward. It is chaotic, cathartic, and brilliantly loud. The band will celebrate the release of The Party Addendum EP in the 7th Street Entry on June 13 with Mary Jam and SoulFlower. -YV

Deletist

Deletist’s Bandcamp bio instructs, “live, laugh, lock in.” The Minneapolis indie-rock band’s debut album, mudlark, makes listeners lock into an often playful project full of sonic and lyrical quirks. A hint of sultriness and mischief makes “mississippi mud” stand out. When the opening verse — “Heaven smells like a gun / Wanna hold it / Wanna run / If you stay with me / We can have such fun” — creeps in, Casey Ashman sounds ready to stir up a juicy plan. Made up of Ashman (vocals), Allison Payonk (bass and vocals), Philip Reilly (guitar and vocals), and Arthur Chapman (drums), Deletist’s debut establishes a solid indie-rock foundation. -MR

sunpearl

What sets St. Paul ambient music duo sunpearl apart from other ambient projects is vocals by Isabel Fajardo, which float over Toby Ramaswamy’s ethereal soundscapes on keys and drums. Collaborators Shahzad Ismaily (piano, bass, drums) and Luke Rivard (kalimba, aux perc) joined them to create their latest album seladona. Released in April, “seladona is a fully improvised album that leans into play, space, and warmth,” the artists write. “Captured across two studio sessions — the first in spring and the other in fall — the record feels like the gentle passing of time.” -AD

Alexander Natalie

St. Paul rock band Alexander Natalie’s single “Crystalline” is a beautiful love song that evokes the feeling of a summer day at a Minnesota lake. It is the first single from their upcoming album, Apartment Volume, which was recorded live in one room at a cabin in Hayward, Wisconsin. “We wanted these songs to be as warm and homey and lived-in as possible,” said frontman Noah Alexander Topliff-Looney, regarding the recording process. Alexander Natalie’s album is set to release on July 1 with a release show at Pilllar Forum in Minneapolis on July 11 with openers Keep for Cheap and Lily Blue. Fans of Dr. Dog and Fleet Foxes may enjoy the new music from Alexander Natalie. -AD

Josh Cleveland

Singer-songwriter Josh Cleveland has returned with a new album. His soulful single “Keep Singing” anchors his patient sophomore album, Prove the Sound. Twelve years after his debut, the Minneapolis artist is back with a sharp, curated studio sound. Producers Christopher Furst and Chris Bethea carved the band's live jamming down to its raw essentials. Cleveland's rich vocal carries the track, bracketed by Dustin Smith’s warm lap dobro and Nikki Lemire’s elegant harp. It is a slow-cooked, intricate anthem that transforms heavy personal reflection into a genuinely resonant statement on resilience. Cleveland will host an album release party on Thursday, June 4, at the Granada Theater in Minneapolis with special guest Haley E Rydell. -YV

Matcha Fever

Matcha Fever is a Minneapolis band self-described as “utilizing the power of ‘80s city pop to transform and revitalize the beloved Minneapolis sound.” Members Toni Li, Kale Winship, Kyle Rutten, and Jack Long combine a funk and vintage pop sound with a hint of nostalgia. Check out their song “blur” for a nice little summer vibe. Matcha Fever will perform at Amsterdam Bar & Hall in St. Paul on Friday, July 17. Check out their official website to find out more about each member and hear new music. -NT