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 6 to 8 p.m., hosted by Diane. For more music discovery from The Current, watch for Jeffrey Bissoy's The Come-Up, highlighting new local hip-hop and more. Also, each Thursday, The Current's music director Jade picks great new tracks from around the world.

The Cactus Blossoms

Vintage country-rock band The Cactus Blossoms’ latest “Hey Baby” presents a much-welcomed tune of optimism in a world of strife and chaos. The feel-good, easy listening song is highly singable and catchy, led by the pristine vocal harmonies of brothers Jack Torrey and Page Burkum. The band released this single as a preview of their third full-length One Day, set to release this February 2022. - Diane

Whistler Isaiah

The members of Hippo Campus seem to be raring to go for spring training as they get ready to release their third LP as a band and head out on a massive tour. They’ve just released a baseball-themed video for their single “Semi Pro,” and drummer Whistler Isaiah’s debut solo EP Small Yard features a song called “Baseball Cap.” The gentle, intimate songs recall Sufjan Stevens: just as suited for cozy winter nights as for warm summer days. - Jay Gabler

Erik Koskinen

“During times of quarantine, I (we) recorded a new record that I have struggled finishing for many reasons,” Erik Koskinen wrote on Instagram in November. As he pokes and prods at that album, he is releasing demos and unreleased tracks, including the original version of his Burning the Deal song “Down In The Factory.” This version leans harder on guitar and drums, chugging like heavy machinery. - Cecilia Johnson

Boyish

Boyish are a breakout dream-pop duo featuring guitarist Claire Altendahl, originally from Eagan, Minnesota. Altendahl met vocalist India Shore while attending Berklee College of Music. Formerly known as The Blue, Boyish officially formed in 2019. The group’s latest single “Smithereens” features luscious singing with fine melody backed by a comforting, strong pop beat. - Diane

Foe

Foe are about to make their IRL live debut on January 5 at the 7th St Entry, but the five-piece psych-rock band based in the Twin Cities have already been busy in virtual spaces. They regularly stream playing video games on Twitch, and their Tiny Desk Contest submission found them playing their single “Only You” (an original song, not to be confused with the Yazoo hit) as tiny musicians on a tiny desk due to a little green-screen magic. - Jay Gabler

RRA

If you like dub music, North African percussion, and Stranger Things synths, duck into this corner of the musical world. RRA is Sara Nell Abdelaal, bass/synth player of long-lost Minneapolis band CLAPS. She recently spoke with our friends at KFAI’s Radio Pocho. - Cecilia Johnson

Night Moves

Night Moves channel the swagger of a classic-rock band with an indie-modernist style, supported by elements of psychedelia and folk. Led by vocalist/keyboardist John Pelant, Night Moves have been professionally active since 2012, when they signed to Domino Records (Animal Collective, Dirty Projectors) and released their acclaimed LP Colored Emotions. Their latest release, “Fallacy Actually,” is perhaps their strongest production yet, where haunty sonic instrumentation meets the vibe of romantic nostalgia. - Diane

EVV

We met EVV (solo artist; they/them pronouns) this past spring when they released the explosive song and video “Dead to Me.” Big things seemed in store for the Minneapolis rocker, and sure enough, after a string of successful local shows they’ve landed in the lineup for First Avenue’s Best New Bands showcase on January 7. We’ve been spinning their latest single “Superficial Dedication,” and they have another song dropping on New Year’s Eve. “I’m so thankful to finally be releasing music that reflects my current sound,” they wrote recently on Instagram. “It has changed a lot!” - Jay Gabler

Update 1/5: Best New Bands has been postponed to March 4.

Banana Crème

I wouldn’t call Banana Crème’s music light or sweet — too much groovy bass and synth-and-cymbal wash for that — but their jazzy synth instrumental tunes sure are a treat. Andrew Tomten wrote, recorded, and mixed his self-titled EP with a little help from friends Joey Hayes, Kai Brewster, Jon Lindquist, and Stone Thompson. - Cecilia Johnson

Jamecia Bennett

Powerhouse vocalist Jamecia Bennett teamed up with Grammy-Award winning collective Sounds of Blackness for a blood-pumping dance number meant to wake humans into a state of positivity. Driven by vigorous house beats and amplified singing, “To The Sky” is the perfect workout, game-time, or self-empowerment soundtrack. - Diane