Josh Scott is a ghost. Well, not literally, but in the Wisconsin indie scene, he’s basically a myth. If you’ve ever fallen down a Bon Iver rabbit hole, you might have seen the name Aero Flynn pop up in the credits or heard Justin Vernon mention a guy who "ambassador-ed his heart." That’s Josh. He’s the guy who fronted Amateur Love in the early 2000s, a band so good it reportedly made Vernon want to quit or work ten times harder, depending on which Eau Claire legend you believe.
Then he just... disappeared.
For a decade, while his peers were winning Grammys and headlining festivals, Scott was battling a brutal cocktail of depression and a mystery autoimmune disease. He moved to Chicago. He went off the grid. When he finally came back in 2015 with the self-titled Aero Flynn record, it wasn't just a comeback. It felt like a survival document.
What the Heck Does Aero Flynn Actually Sound Like?
Honestly, it’s hard to pin down. If you like the glitchy, experimental textures of 22, A Million but wish it had a bit more 90s alt-rock grit, you’re in the right place. The music is a strange, beautiful mess of "cathedral-shivering" synths and jagged guitar lines.
Take the track "Dk/Pi." It’s a total burner. It starts with this urgent, driving rhythm and then Josh’s voice comes in—this high, thin, vulnerable tenor that sounds like it’s being broadcast from a lunar outpost. It’s "club-bangs" meets "psych-jams." People often compare it to In Rainbows-era Radiohead, and that's not wrong. There’s a certain digital soulfulness to it that feels both cold as space and warm as a kitchen at 3 AM.
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The 2015 debut featured a "who's who" of the April Base crew:
- Justin Vernon (Producer and multi-instrumentalist)
- Sean Carey (S. Carey/Bon Iver)
- Mike Noyce
- Rob Moose (The yMusic legend)
But don't get it twisted. This isn't a Bon Iver side project. It's Josh Scott's brain spilled out onto tape.
The Mystery of Madeline
After the first record and a few live shows (including a legendary set at the first Eaux Claires festival), things went quiet again. Fans figured that was it. Then, on Christmas Day 2020, a new album titled Madeline just... appeared.
No press release. No big marketing push. Just a tweet: "Madeline. Out now. Go."
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Madeline is a different beast. It’s short—only 21 minutes—but it’s emotionally heavy. It’s more "wintery" than the first record. If the self-titled album was a flare gun signaling he was still alive, Madeline is a quiet conversation in the dark. It’s got these twitchy, R&B-inflected beats and vocals that are pitched up and down until they sound like multiple versions of Scott arguing with himself.
"You Care" is the standout there. It was actually a single from 2017 that finally found a home on the album. It’s probably the most "pop" thing he’s done under the Aero Flynn moniker, but it’s still underscored by that signature anxiety. It’s a portrait of stilted communication between an introvert and an extrovert. Basically, it’s the soundtrack to every awkward party you've ever attended.
Why You Should Care in 2026
We live in an era of over-exposure. Everyone is "on" all the time. Aero Flynn is the opposite.
Josh Scott reminds us that music doesn't have to be a constant stream of content to be vital. Sometimes the best stuff comes from the people who are barely holding it together, who only speak when they absolutely have to. There's a fragility in these songs that you just don't get from polished studio pop. It's "life-or-death" music.
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If you're looking for where to start, go chronologically. The self-titled album is the big statement. Madeline is the late-night epilogue.
Where to find them:
- Bandcamp: This is the best place to support them directly. You can find both the self-titled LP and Madeline there.
- Vinyl: If you can track down the clear vinyl of the debut, grab it. It’s a gorgeous object and the mastering is top-notch.
- The Connections: If you like this, go back and listen to It’s All Aquatic by Amateur Love. It’s the prequel to the whole Aero Flynn story and a stone-cold classic of 2000s indie rock.
Check out the song "Crisp" first. It’s got this tribal beat and a vocal melody that will stay stuck in your head for days. It's the perfect entry point into one of the most underrated discographies of the last twenty years. Go listen. Now.
Next Steps:
Go to Bandcamp and stream the track "Dk/Pi." If the chorus doesn't give you chills, you might be a robot. After that, look up the lyrics to Bon Iver's "Holocene"—the line about "Lip Parade" is a direct nod to Josh Scott's old band. It’s all connected.