What We're Listening to This Month – Mpls.St.Paul Magazine

Here’s what new local music is on our radar.
by Mpls.St.Paul Editors
Culture
May 6, 2026
6:30 AM
Photo by Madalyn Rowell
Each month, we’re rounding up the latest local music that’s been on repeat. Follow our Spotify playlist to keep up with new music releases from Minnesota. 
“The Library” by Molly Brandt
Molly Brandt moves with a quiet, magnetic pull—smooth, sensual, and richly layered. Its minimal production leaves space for tension to build, drawing you closer with each hushed lyric and subtle sonic shift on “The Library.” There’s a dark-pop intimacy reminiscent of Billie Eilish, but Brandt carves her own lane, leaning into a denser emotional atmosphere that feels both mysterious and grounded. The song lingers like a secret whispered in dim light, balancing restraint and desire. It’s a slow burn that rewards close listening, revealing new textures each time.
“Rendezvous With a Star” by Rich Mattson and the Northstars
On “Rendezvous With a Star,” Rich Mattson and the Northstars lean into a dense, country-tinged sound that feels pulled from another era. There’s a loose, road-worn charm in its arrangement—twangy guitars, steady rhythms, and a storytelling instinct that echoes Bob Dylan at his most reflective. The song unfolds like a late-night conversation, full of poetic turns and quiet revelations. It’s not polished in a modern sense, and that’s its strength. Instead, it settles into something lived-in and authentic, capturing the romance and weariness of chasing something just out of reach.
“Weight” by Obadiah Gamble
This song feels like a quiet conversation with yourself at the end of a long day. His warm, intricate guitar work carries a gentle emotional gravity, blending indie pop with subtle jazz and bossa nova textures. There’s a softness in his voice that makes the song feel intimate, yet expansive, as if he’s holding something heavy but choosing grace over collapse. Knowing his musical lineage (the nephew of the late Jessa Gamble, who died of cancer in 2021) adds another layer—the sensitivity in “Weight” echoes a deep, inherited artistry. It’s a song about burden, but also about how beauty can exist inside it, patiently and tenderly.
“Don’t Happy Be Worry” by Dillinger Four
Dillinger Four hits like a sprint through anxiety, powered by churning guitars and a rhythm section that never lets up on their latest single. The song flips optimism on its head, leaning into life’s frustrations with wit and urgency rather than empty reassurance. There’s a cathartic honesty in how it confronts everyday struggles—work, time, expectations—and refuses to sugarcoat them. Instead, it invites you to shout along and find release in the chaos. It’s classic punk energy with a knowing edge, capturing how messy, relentless, and strangely communal survival can feel.
“Golden Bough” by Lovely Dark
For over a decade, Sonia and her songwriting and life partner Travis Even have shaped a sound that blends melody with theatrical intensity, culminating in their latest album, Golden Bough. Self-produced and elevated by the mixing and mastering by Magnus Lindberg, the record feels both expansive and deliberate. Its title track stands out for its vivid, immersive storytelling, anchoring an album that resists easy categorization. Lovely Dark feels bigger than a band—they’re carving out a distinct artistic world that pushes rock into something more fluid and culturally resonant.
by Mpls.St.Paul Editors
May 6, 2026
6:30 AM
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