Homeless & Big Cats: Polar Bear Rug

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Grace Birnstengel is a student at the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities.

Wretch: Kink EP

There’s a lot to be said for the plethora of punk, post-punk, riot grrrl and the many punk subgenres that call the Twin Cities home. What if there was something new to add to one of our most beloved music scenes? Wretch is attempting to just that with their sexually liberating debut the Kink EP. The trio make glam-punk with a heavy dose of their own brand of sexuality. On Facebook, they tell their fans that they "wish we could rip out your hearts and make out with them." Their philosophy is “No Apologies. No Regrets. No Guitars,” and their live shows reflect it. You can check out their Kitty Cat Klub performance back in April via UnderCurrentMPLS above. They'll be at the 7th Street Entry on Monday to release Kink.

Elena: The Girl I Know

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Elena is a new singer-songwriter ready to give you some easy listening on her debut The Girl I Know EP. From acoustic jam sessions like “Kiss Me Again” to the jazzy tinged “Wandering,” Elena’s music explores both the happy and sad sides of love. She will be at the Pourhouse on Thursday for the release. You can also keep up with Elena’s thoughts on her blog.

QNA: QNA EP

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Jazz and hip-hop have always had their moments together, and the two genres are having yet another with University of Minnesota grads QNA. The all-jazz five-piece made their way out to New York City for a gap year to try their hand with Carlos Kelley and Benjamin Chin’s influenced rhymes—influenced by their time in the Twin Cities—hovering over their bright-eyed tracks. On the loose and appealing QNA, every track sounds like a freestyle rap clinging to a gleefully runaway band.

Aaron Bolton is a senior at the University of Minnesota. Currently he is a co-host on Radio K’s Off The Record and is the music reporter at Radio K. He hopes to continue a career in music journalism.