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. In April 2024, The Current compiled the first Minnesota Music Month Scouting Report with votes from the local music industry. For even more new local music picks for June, check out Carbon Sound’s 1st of the Month.

Venus Yevu

Venus Yevu is an up-and-coming singer-songwriter with a powerful voice who has been performing locally since 2022. In May, Yevu released her single “Shadow - Demo,” a stripped-down piano-heavy ballad. She says that the track was written about honoring yourself and embracing the journey towards the light. Her debut album, Nothing Comes For Free, will be out end of 2024. You can catch her performing live Wednesday, June 5, at Acadia and Saturday, June 22, at Justice Jam in Anoka. -NT

Nelson Devereaux 

Nelson Devereaux brings a fresh sound to the table with “ghostrider,” a jazzy, spacey tune. The instrumentation and production interact nicely, creating an ethereal sound perfect for late summer nights. Devereaux’s primary instrument has been the saxophone ever since he picked it up at age eight, and it’s beautifully featured on “ghostrider” alongside floating piano melodies and chill, yet existential, vocals. His music education background is extensive as both a student and a teacher, and he has collaborated with Bon Iver, Lizzo and, Mild High Club, to name a few. This is the first single from his solo record, and we can’t wait to hear more. -AD

Gramma

Inspired by the energetic sounds of D.I.Y. shows attended during their high school years, Gramma formed in 2015 and has since maintained a strong following in the Twin Cities music scene. The Minneapolis-based alt-rock/grunge trio has embarked on over a dozen tours across the country since 2017, and recently returned home from headlining a release tour for their recent album EAT. Recorded at Flowers Studio in South Minneapolis with Kris Johnson, the album draws upon the band’s sonic influences: Pixies, Brainiac, and Mclusky. Their upcoming live shows are June 8 at Daily Dose Retro, July 1 at Klash Drums, and July 23 at 7th Street Entry. -AD

The Shackletons

The Shackletons’ new record, Formerly the Albatross, hones a nostalgic rock ‘n’ roll sound with explosive, youthful personality. Initially introduced to the scene with their cheeky 2017 release “Minnesota Girls,” the band’s latest batch of pop-rock tunes are similarly riff- and chorus-heavy. Now janglier, sharper, and even more rhythmically explorative, The Shackeltons’ musicality is especially displayed on singles “Caller Number 10” and “Patsy Cline.” Check out The Shackletons’ album release on June 14 at Green Room with Creeping Charlie and Pullstring. -Diane

Flaco

Flaco is a fresh and exciting Minneapolis-based indie artist who incorporates jazzy and bright chords with catchy grooves inspired by funk and hip-hop beats. Flaco’s creative background as a filmmaker and visual artist now informs his current exploration into sonic mediums as a liberating means of self-expression. His talent as a filmmaker is evident in the gorgeous music video he created for “Someone Else,” a groovy single from his upcoming 13-track album. Fans of Still Woozy, Mk.Gee, and The Japanese House may enjoy Flaco’s music. -AD

Lucia Sarmiento

Peruvian saxophonist Lucia Sarmiento is based in Minnesota, but has performed to huge crowds across the country. Over the past couple of years, Sarmiento has joined big-time Latin American names on tour like Karol G and Pitbull. She is also a solo artist. Her forthcoming debut solo album, Escape, is described as a “synth-heavy jazz quintet led with the tenor saxophone, plus delicate vocal arrangements.” The single “Porcelain” fits the description accurately. Follow Lucia on socials to check out fun saxophone covers and stay up-to-date on any upcoming shows. -NT

LOTT

Acclaimed violinist, singer, and songwriter Leah Ottman left a storied legacy in the Minneapolis music scene. Before her untimely passing in December 2020, Ottman was in the process of recording an electronica record, BARAKADA, under the moniker LOTT. Last month, the artist’s collaborators honored her by releasing the album and donating all profits to the foundation Leah’s First Chair to “provide children in need throughout the Twin Cities with stringed instruments.” BARAKADA includes the work of familiar local names MAKR (of MAKR AN ERIS), Ryan Olson and Chris Bierden (of Polica), Jeremy Ylivsaker (The Suburbs, Alpha Consumer), and more. The songs are immersing — juxtaposing LOTT’s soft, elegant vocals with artistically computerized beats, clashy noise, and enticing musicality.  -Diane

Dirty Hymns feat. Justin Courtney Pierre

Dirty Hymns’ newest track, “Beware,” is like an auditory version of the ubiquitous “This is Fine” meme, featuring a dog sitting with his coffee in a burning room. Matt Smith wrote a version of the song years ago, and was finally able to bring it to life with a band featuring Marcus Penny on bass, drummer Jeremy Harvey, and Dan Lawonn on cello. “Beware” leads us into a world dense with despair, but also shows us the path out. Smith met Justin Courtney Pierre of Motion City Soundtrack at a party in 2023 and convinced him to collaborate on the song. Pierre lends his vocals to the chorus and his soaring melodies are the frosting on top of this emotional layer cake. -YV

Bryn Battani

At times reminiscent of Kathleen Edwards and, at others, Brandi Carlile, Bryn Battani’s new song “Dicey (The Floor Song)” is all vulnerability wrapped up in a blanket of enigmatic charm. Self-described as “never not sincere,” Battani’s music is a raw glimpse into her diary that blends French pop and Americana with a dash of indie rock for good measure. The artist will celebrate her EP Guest Room with a release show at Amsterdam Bar & Hall on Sunday, June 9, with NATL PARK SRVC, Squinny, and Nina Luna. -YV

Solid Gold

Minneapolis synth-rockers Solid Gold have been making music for more than two decades. Right now, singer Zach Coulter and multi-instrumentalist bandmates Matt Locher and Adam Hurlburt seem to be entering a new era of activity. In October of 2023, they returned with “Start Again, Feel the Same,” their first new song since 2020. The buoyant, catchy, and nostalgic pop tune “Don’t React” followed in May. Recorded at Pachyderm Studio, the song was produced by Cecil Otter, and features contributions by Jacob Mullis, Dave Power, Jake Pavek. Solid Gold will perform with White Boy Summer at Green Room on Saturday, June 15. -NT