A lot of musical acts try to build on the success of their early music. But for indie rock band Yam Haus, each time they release new music is a new step in their musical evolution — particularly this time around.
It’s been a half-decade, three EPs, more than a dozen singles, a lost band member, an appearance on American Song Contest and a global pandemic since the Minneapolis-based trio last put forth a major release. But now they’re back with Stupid and Famous, a seven-track EP that effectively serves as the emergence of their new rock-focused musical identity.
“I feel like so much has happened since the first album and this doesn't even feel like it's our second one,” says guitarist Zach Beinlich. “I feel like a new band. We have a totally different way that we're approaching how we create music.”
“This EP represents a real departure from the previous version of our band and entrance into a new direction creatively,” adds singer and guitarist Lars Pruitt. “We’re just starting to truly find our sonic identity, and I think this is just a taste of what's to come as we continue to build and expound on this new direction. We're giving ourselves permission to be a lot more hands-on with everything, because our first few years as a band were marked by a lot of producer influence and being OK with not having an identity. This is us finding our lane, and really enjoying it.”
With four of the seven tracks (“Rafters,” “Sandcastle,” “Stupid and Famous,” and “Shakin’ Yer Hips”) released as singles ahead of the EP, Yam Haus is quickly shedding its pop image and establishing itself as a genuine guitar-driven indie rock act. The title track itself is about how artists are perceived in the music industry, while “So Long” focuses on just how long it’s taken for the band to find their authentic sound and hit their stride.
And as one of the newest additions to Big Loud Rock’s roster, Yam Haus’ search for authenticity has found the perfect home. Pruitt, Beinlich and drummer Jake Felstow know they could’ve gone down a more mainstream pop-friendly rabbit hole for their new release if they’d listened to the industry suits and producers around them after their sold-out headlining shows before the pandemic. Instead, they spent their years off the road taking their music in a new direction and harkening back to some of their first musical loves like Green Day and Weezer.
“We suppressed a lot of our guitar-leaning influences in the hopes of being more successful,” Pruitt says. “It's really ironic, because as we’re being more true to ourselves, that's what's clicking the most and leading to more success. We’re not doing things to try to succeed anymore, we’re just doing what we’re genuinely inspired to do. It feels really good and natural to just be myself, pick up my guitar and make a song out of it — which is something I refused to let myself do in Yam Haus for the longest time.”
The result on Stupid and Famous is a catchy blend of indie rock that still serves up the unforgettable hooks Yam Haus became known for, while also bringing a new level of songwriting maturity and musical complexity to their tracks. The band is growing up alongside the Gen Z audience that dove into their old music, while also allowing their personality, emotions, authenticity and humor to shine a bit more and earn an expanded audience with the new stuff.
“We're really excited about the new music, because it feels like it’s the first time in a long time that we’re creating it as a unified front,” Felstow says. “That’s exciting for us, and hopefully it translates to the people listening to the music. We really put our best foot forward, and we’re loving it.” “We've finally dialed in who we are,” Pruitt adds. “We're not a pop band. We're not going out of our way to pander to a certain type of audience. We're just trying to be our authentic selves now, and we’ll see who sticks with us. It’s the most at home and in sync we’ve felt with each other, and we’re really finding our rhythm as we mature as a band. I hope that people can hear that in this EP, and I hope they're ready for even more. Because it genuinely feels like the beginning of a whole new era.”
So far, that policy has been working out for Yam Haus and pleasing fans throughout the twists and turns of their musical journey. Ahead of the new album’s launch, the band started performing tracks that haven’t even officially been released at recent shows. And much to their surprise, their audience started singing the lyrics back to them after learning the songs from social media and single releases.
But despite the sustained success on both sides of the pandemic — both digitally (15 million streams, 20 million YouTube views, 2 million TikTok likes, 25k+ followers on TikTok, Instagram and Spotify) and physically (100+ shows including 50+ headlining and supporting artists like Blue October and Bishop Briggs) — Yam Haus feels like they’re just getting started. At the very least, Pruitt’s committed to the journey in ways not easily changed. “I got the band tattooed on my ass, so I’m here for the long game.