Scott Zosel is Making a Scene

July 28, 2023

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Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Scott Zosel

Ellen Stanley dubbed Scott Zosel as ‘a songwriter’s songwriter.’ Inspired by the bold poetry of Emily Dickinson and the psychedelic country of Gram Parsons, the Minneapolis-based artist has always been drawn to artful and fearless storytelling.

“Writing songs is the last thing I think about before I drift off to sleep each night, and the first thing on my mind as I awaken each morning,” Scott says. “I am obsessed with lyrics and melody, and crazy, obtuse narratives.”

The son of a veterinarian turned preacher, therapist and professor, Scott moved around as a kid, living in the country, suburbs and city, absorbing all the sights and sounds of the world. He never was in the school’s band or choir, but he taught himself how to play guitar from a Bob Dylan songbook that he discovered lying next to
his dad’s 12-string guitar. But it was not until after he went to Minneapolis College of Art & Design and graduated from St. Cloud State University with a degree in journalism that he started performing music.

In the 1980s Scott fronted an all-original new wave band named Five Below. Loud and rhythmic, they played a mix of Ska, Tex-Mex, Surf, and Rock styles, a band that could whip a crowd into a dancing frenzy at the drop of a hat. Sharing the stage with several national acts at the iconic First Avenue, the band achieved some success on the Twin Cities music scene. He went on to a career as a writer and designer until he formed the jangle pop trio Crooked Numbers. He started writing music again and won the 2018 Singer-Songwriter Competition at the River Falls Bluegrass Festival. The pandemic forced him to reconnect with his solo songwriting voice, and he made short work of it, releasing two albums in two years — Coal Black Curls (2020) and his new Americana album Tiny Yellow Room (2021), garnering comparisons to fellow Minnesotans The Jayhawks. With the release of the new album and the return of in-person gigging, Scott is emerging as a top-notch songwriting talent and an important voice on the roots music scene. He recently showcased at the Folk Alliance Region Midwest (FARM) Conference, and his song “Emily” was featured in Americana UK.

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