MINNESOTA SOUND REVIEWS - 12/31/2025
Reviews by: Katy Tessman, Writer @summit.presents
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, Owner/Editor @PlaylistTC
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Katy’s Six Standout Singles of 2025
This week we have Katy Tessman stepping in to write about six songs released in 2025 that stood out for her (that are available on Spotify.) The songs span a wide sweep of Twin Cities sound, from pop-rock to hip-hop to bluegrass. Whether it’s heartbreak, class struggle, longing, or nostalgia, each track is someone saying, I’m still here, and I’m still trying to reach you. These songs refuse to look away from the mess of being human. Instead they lean in, crack themselves open, and offer connection in the only reliable way musicians ever have: one song at a time.
Mati “Still Fed” (April 16, 2025)
“Still Fed” shows exactly why Mati is becoming one of the most compelling young voices out of Minneapolis. Born in Ethiopia and raised in a city with a deep musical history, he filters his lived experience straight into the song, rapping and singing with an easy confidence. The track moves on a low-simmer groove while he unpacks ego, regret, and gratitude with writing that feels honest and unforced. He tosses off lines about lemons, ramen, and unfair breaks, but beneath the shrug is someone who knows that being “still fed” is its own quiet declaration of resilience. He’s carving out a voice that already feels unmistakably his own.
Sawtooth Witch “The Hustle” (June 24, 2025)
“The Hustle” hits like a sermon delivered from the middle of a picket line. Sawtooth Witch tears into the American myth of hard work, twisting the famous “give me your tired, your hungry, and your poor” into a sharp critique of how the system actually treats them. Doc’s half-dirge, half-rallying-cry delivery carries a raw, self-built arrangement, driven by their excellent, razor-edged guitar work, with Haley Fleming’s violin slicing through the mix like a warning flare and Holly Hansen’s engineering keeping everything tight and unvarnished. The song drags hypocrisy into daylight and refuses to let it slip back into the shadows. It’s cathartic, blunt, and brutally clear.
Clover and the Bee “Love Song #6” (September 19, 2025)
“Love Song #6” plants Clover and the Bee firmly on the map as the new bluegrass band built from members of The High 48s and Becky Schlegel. The band plays with the tightness of musicians who’ve logged a thousand miles in other projects, yet the track still feels fresh on its feet. It’s a heartache song with a melody that walks the line between classic and freshly bruised. Written by Eric Christopher (mandolin and lead vocals), the tune shines as Anthony Ihrig’s banjo adds sparkle, Schlegel’s harmonies bring the ache without overwhelming it, and Kevin Rowe’s bass anchors everything so the heartbreak lands cleanly. It’s modern bluegrass shaped with old-school finesse, proving heartache can still sound brand new when the right players get hold of it.
Maria and the Coins “Say It’s Over” (October 17, 2025)
With “Say It’s Over,” Maria and the Coins step confidently into their next release while holding tight to what’s always made them hit hard: sharp lyrics, big hooks, and Maria’s powerhouse vocal at the center. The song leans into their early-2000s indie pop-rock DNA, pairing emotional urgency with a chorus built for singing at full volume, preferably while driving with the windows down. There’s heartbreak here, but it’s delivered with momentum rather than collapse, the band choosing forward motion over wallowing. As with much of their catalog, the song balances vulnerability and resolve, acknowledging the ache without getting stuck in it. “Say It’s Over” feels like a turning point rather than a full stop, a reminder that closure can still come with energy, hope, and a push toward whatever comes next.
Step Rockets “Talk” (November 7, 2025)
“Talk” taps straight into Step Rockets’ sweet spot: glossy indie rock soaked in psychedelia, built for movement, and carrying just enough emotional gravity to matter. Joshua Schmidt and Brady Grey’s twin-guitar setup locks in over John Synhavsky’s drums, where the Purdy shuffle gives the whole track that unmistakable 90s groove — the kind that gets your shoulders moving before you notice you’re dancing. Schmidt’s melodic instincts give the chorus its addictive lift, but the lyrics keep things rooted in something raw: the panic of silence, the ache of wanting truth, the way communication collapses at the worst possible moment. Lines like, “the silence is killing me, what can I do?” hit harder because they're riding a beat that refuses to sulk. It’s longing wrapped in dance-floor confidence, the sound of a band seasoned by a decade in the scene and still finding new ways to connect.
Ted Hajnasiewicz “Love Song for Dusty” (November 18, 2025)
“Love Song for Dusty” arrives as the first single from Ted Hajnasiewicz’s upcoming full-length solo album set for release on February 12, 2026, co-written with Doyle Turner, his partner in The International Treasures. Born from a real night at Dusty’s Bar in NE Minneapolis — and this writer was there to experience the magic — the song leans into Hajnasiewicz’s signature nostalgic rock and roll, delivered with plenty of heart. It’s a love song for what Dusty’s truly is: a haven for beautifully odd regulars and night owls who gather around local musicians performing from the bar’s legendary “big green booth.” As a preview of Ted’s new chapter ahead, the track is clear, confident, and has a very singable refrain (literally). And releasing it on his 55th birthday underscores something simple and steady: Ted’s songwriting is growing richer and more unapologetically full of heart.
