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YAM HAUS to Represent Minnesota in NBC’s American Song Contest

Yam Haus 2021
Yam Haus in May 2021. Photo from the Yam Haus Facebook Page.

Minnesota pop band, YAM HAUS are contestants in the American Song Contest on NBC. YAM HAUS will be competing against 56 other bands to determine which band has the best song. 

YAM HAUS will be going up against bands representing each state and territory, with bands at every skill level and experience, from smaller college bands to celebrities, such as Jewel and Michael Bolton. 

There will be 56 judges, with fans encouraged to vote. The first five shows are the qualifiers, with two semi-final shows and one show for the finals. 

Hosted by Snoop Dogg and Kelly Clarkson with Atlantic Records dealing with publicity, the show will feature 56 bands going head-to-head over the season in order to determine the best original song in America. 

The show’s first season began March 21st on NBC, with a total of eight two-hour shows on Monday nights. This is the first season.

Formed in Minnesota in 2017, YAM HAUS is competing with their song “Ready to Go”. Having already established itself in the midwest music scene, the group is hoping to gain publicity from the American Song Contest in order to launch them to even higher levels.

American Song Contest was inspired by Eurovision, where European bands compete against each other to determine who has the best song in Europe. 

YAM HAUS definitely has their work cut out for them, but their competitive spirit should give them a definite advantage, especially if their fanbase weighs in.

Yam Haus Band
YAM HAUS in January 2022. Found on the YAM HAUS Facebook Page.

Who is YAM HAUS?

YAM HAUS members consist of Lars Pruitt (vocals), Seth Blum (electric guitar) Zach Beinlich (bass), and Jake Felstow (drums). 

What does YAM HAUS mean? The name stands for  “You are me”, a philosophy that encourages one to empathize with other people. 

History of YAM HAUS

Like many bands, the origins of YAM HAUS began in the cafeteria of Hudson High School. However, the members ended up going their separate ways for college. 

In 2017, Pruitt wrote a number of songs and started recording them. He soon reached out to his high school friends to see if they were interested in picking up the band again.

They listened to his songs and were inspired to move forward with the group again, with Felstow joining them. Beinlich left a master’s program, Blum departed his pre-med studies, Felstow quit a healthcare company, and Pruitt left behind a church music gig. 

The members decided to start a vlog, book as many shows as possible, and do whatever it took to properly chase their dream. Their plan seems to be working well so far.

Yam Haus 2022
The band YAM HAUS in Los Angeles, California in March 2022. Photo from the YAM HAUS Facebook Page.

YAM HAUS Inspiration and Success

The band itself was inspired by the likes of Coldplay, Radiohead, Charlie XCX, and The Killers. They have played with Bishop Briggs, Kacey Musgrave, Adam Lambert, Tori Kelley, Andy Grammar, AWOLNATION, JOHNNYSWIM, and lovelytheband. 

With a solid synth-pop sound with some carryover into pop, YAM HAUS has an upbeat and contagious style.

Their single “The Thrill” has garnered 948k+ listens on Spotify, which has helped establish their fanbase. 

While a planned tour was postponed due to the pandemic, appearing on American Song Contest, is a great way to start strong in 2022.

Written by Hope Davis

Long-time music lover Hope became a full-time writer in 2020 after being laid off from her regular job due to COVID-19. She now spends her time traveling the world to see her favorite bands while writing about them!

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