What happens when you take a gifted toulousaine and send her to Dubai, then the Republic of the Congo, then Parisian art school? She might grow up admiring South African artist/activist Miriam Makeba. She might take to percussion, as if beats twirled in her core. She could build songs out of nothing — a rhythm…

Good Night Gold Dust, “Waves” Bring on the vignette and overlays, cry Mankato quartet Good Night Gold Dust here, and they totally make it work. If you haven’t had a chance to hear “Waves,” come for the video’s Insta-worthy aesthetic and stay for Laura Schultz’s vocals. Dwynell Roland, “Eva Change” The beat takes it easy on Dwynell…

The Swedish Academy has announced that Bob Dylan will formally accept his Nobel Prize in Literature this weekend in a “small and intimate” ceremony in Stockholm. “No media will be present; only Bob Dylan and members of the Academy will attend, all according to Dylan’s wishes,” writes the Academy’s Sara Danius in a blog post…

Lenny Kravitz will pay tribute to Prince with a musical performance at the April 7 induction ceremony for this year’s class at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Rolling Stone reports. The ceremony, which will take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, will see the induction of Electric Light Orchestra, Journey, Tupac Shakur,…

“I will talk your ear off,” Liv Warfield warned me when I got on the phone with her. A vocalist in Prince’s New Power Generation and co-leader of rock/R&B band Roadcase Royale, Warfield met Prince in 2008 and toured on and off with him until his passing in 2016. She’s released two solo albums, the second…

When the Minnesota Twins return to Target Field next Monday, April 3, Dessa will be on hand to sing the National Anthem. Accompanying the Doomtree star will be a brass quintet from the Minnesota Orchestra. Update 4/3: Dessa has been forced to cancel due to sickness. Seriously disappointed to announce that I won't be able to…

Mac Irv, “Misfit” “I just want to make it out and make a difference,” Mac Irv sings on the hook to his newest track. “Misfit” contrasts two versions of the same day, and it’ll hit viewers hard. Drelli, “Chiquita” What a joy. So Cold signee Drelli stars in a Nintendo 64 tennis game, and Gabe Hostetler directs. The “Chiquita”…

“The whole of Minneapolis is at Icehouse tonight,” I commented after walking inside the candlelit Nicollet Avenue bar. Chastity Brown sat at a table with friends; Jess Staveley-Taylor stood on stage talking with a tech; members of the media and other familiar faces strolled around the floor. Singer/songwriters Dusty Heart and indie rock band BBGUN were about to play…

Often, I wonder what artists music lovers think of when they hear the word “Winona.” Perhaps on-the-rise Nick Elstad and his sunny band Sleeping Jesus, or maybe the late great Weathered Heads? Who could forget folk-rockers the Heavy Set? Then, of course, you have indie bands galore: Driftwood Bones, the Ultrasounds, Karate Chop Silence, and…

“The last time I was here, I was with P,” Shelby J. tells me on the Dakota Jazz Club’s balcony, looking me in the eye. “We were walking out, and he made me promise — I promised him I would play here.” Her gaze hops down to the table and back up to me. “Last…