Scalise is an indie folk/rock band with two lead singers and horns out of the south metro Twin Cities area. Since the release of their debut album at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, they've been performing at local venues and have opened for nationally touring acts. Scalise is currently promoting the release of their upcoming sophomore album.
The band started when core members Graden Hill (vocals/guitar), Ben Schwartz (drums), and George Knier (keys) were thirteen years old. Once the group had added Rachel Scott (vocals/bass) to the lineup, their high school band director asked the group to lead a jazz combo including Collyn Camara (guitar/trombone) and Sarah Navratil (saxophone). After practicing rock music instead of jazz, Camara, and as an occasional member, Navratil, were added to the lineup. Frustrated with the rotating list of band names the group had been performing under, Schwartz decided it was to ask their music director what to name the band. After rejecting Mr. Scalise's suggestions, Schwartz presented "Scalise".