For Minnesota Music Month, The Current polled the local music industry for April’s edition of The Scouting Report. A total of 112 people filled out this year’s Minnesota Music Month Scouting Report ballot, and 489 unique artists were chosen overall. The top 10 artists who received the most support include SoulFlower.

The members of Minneapolis-based band SoulFlower met during some jam sessions held as part of The Cherry Pit event series two years ago. After doing music as individuals, vocalist/bassist Inayah El-Amin, guitarists Matt “Freakwhensee” Greene and Victor Wedden, and drummer Ezekiel Cowan naturally gravitated towards each other.

SoulFlower’s fusion of rock, pop, and soul is fresh, fun and vulnerable. The band released the debut EP, SETLIST, in October of 2024. In this interview, El-Amin details the band’s journey so far.

Can you share some of your favorite local music-related memories?

When I was really young, I went to the Ordway for my little brother's birthday. When the band started to sing James Brown's "[Say It Loud] – I'm Black, and I'm Proud." I remember dancing at the front of the stage with my family, and strangers, all of us in that space. The musicians were giving us so much energy, and then we were giving so much energy right back, just chanting and cheering on. I also remember seeing Chastity Brown. I grew up in Hopkins for a bit of my life, and I remember seeing her at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. This curly haired, freckled-faced woman was just singing so beautifully and playing guitar. Little did I know it was giving me a view into the future of what I would be doing, too.

Would you say seeing Chastity Brown play inspired you to move into that direction?

Definitely. And inspired guitar playing, you know what I mean? Wanting to pick up an instrument and not just be using my voice.

What does Minnesota music mean to you? And how would you define the music scene here?

I would describe it as super passionate — especially the artists. Also, the people working behind the scenes, like sound engineers and the crews that work at venues. There are the punk and DIY scenes, too. There are so many different niches here, which I think is super cool about the scene. You could come to Minneapolis and find any type of music. I don't really like look at the scene as competition at all. The way the music industry is, and all that jazz, it can get competitive. There's a camaraderie and respect. Even if they don't know people personally, you see somebody doing what they love, pushing their art, supporting other people.

How does living in Minneapolis inform your music?

It's just an artistic state. There's always something creative to go to or a creative friend to go support. You find inspiration at shows. We have a song called "Driving Around," and in the lyrics that I wrote for it I mention Lyndale Avenue. I think everybody knows that street. We have people from all over. We have people who are born in Minnesota, and we have people whose families migrated here or came here for refuge. It's a melting pot. People exchange their gifts. Whether it's playing guitar or making something visually and these magical moments happen, or these projects are created that are super meaningful.

What would you say is your favorite Minnesota venue or dream venue to play?

My favorite would be Icehouse. I enjoy their atmosphere and the local and out-of-town scene that they host. I love Amsterdam Bar & Hall, too. Dream venue is First Avenue, and then it'd be cool to get super big and then come back to play the Uptown Theater, because I've driven past that my whole life. I remember when it closed, and when it opened back up. That would be super cool to pack out a space that's like a hall.

What are some SoulFlower tracks that people need to hear and why?

I'll just say our whole EP. We've been together for the past two years, and that EP is a little insight into the beginning of our lives, our live shows, and the songs that we play. People can see where we're coming from, even if we're moving, musically and sonically, into different territories. I would say the song "Sh!t." And I would say "Tenten." The production and the mastering made those songs 10 times more magical. We are going to be dropping a new single soon. So, be on the lookout for new stuff.

SoulFlower will appear with Gully Boys on a new episode of Stage, which makes its audio debut on The Local Show at 9 p.m. Central on Sunday, May 4, and its video debut on TPT at 9 p.m. on Monday, May 5.

Related:  Minnesota Music Month Scouting Report 2025: The top 10 new local artists