All Fans Are Invited to Become the Additional Haim Sister.
"When are you chatting with the band?" a message arrives. "I wanted to ask if I can be their fourth member."
There is only one problem: I also longs to be Haim's newest recruit. Furthermore, we are in plentiful company. A host of high-profile fans have publicly petitioned for the honor.
It's clear an irresistible appeal is at play. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana started their musical journey playing gigs at neighborhood delis with their family. Today, they are multi-time Grammy Award hopefuls.
Like all the greatest groups, they're a inseparable unit. Their videos repeatedly feature them marching in sync down the roads of Los Angeles. During performances, they perform with such unfettered exuberance you inevitably think, "I want to be part of that, too."
"The amount of times on tour that fans told us and said, 'Seeing you perform, I bought a bass'," states Alana, the youngest of the trio. "It is the greatest honour. It is a prize in itself. We've done our job if we can encourage others to start a band."
"Therefore anyone are welcome to be the next part of the family."
Grammy Recognition
The trio are connecting from home, where they're taking a pause after an extensive tour in support of their latest album, I Quit.
They're currently reeling from the news it's been shortlisted for best rock album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the very first female band ever in contention for the trophy.
"I follow the nominations every year, so it kind of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is called," notes Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this right or am I dreaming'?"
The importance of the nomination isn't lost on the band.
"We truly set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a huge step," adds Alana. "But we're just thankful for the pioneers that paved the way."
Emotional Upheaval and Laughter
The album emerged from a time of transition. All three sisters ended up single, and the music captures that odd in-between place where you're relieved to be free, but not entirely ready to move on.
The lyrics detail endings and goodbyes. The sisters seek love, but not the kind of love they've had. You can hear them figuring out in the moment who they want to be.
"I adore description, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is like a slogan. You have to consciously practice shutting out the criticism and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Evolution of Music
That recent toughness called for a new sound – more organic and direct than any of the music the band had done before.
For Danielle, who helped produce the album, that was founded on the drums.
"Drums are such a nuanced thing, and I care so much about it," she emphasizes.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our memoir," jokes Alana. "I've said it, our albums won't commence until we find the right drum sound."
Stories and Collective Humor
The band's openness shaped the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters disclosed some of their personal misadventures.
One man ended things with Este over a health consideration. Alana recalled a story of flying to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.
"When you're going through these setbacks, you just feel like there's no hope," explains Alana. "So to be able to laugh at those stories and hear others tell you more outrageous stories, it's incredible."
A Confident Legacy
You can clearly sense a evolution in the band. Today, Haim are more certain of their standing in the industry.
They're top-billed acts, with successful albums and an global fan base.
However the band will forever be their number one priority.
"My sisters and I have been making music since I was four," says Alana. "It feels as if nothing else that we were meant to do. And I'm really fortunate we've made it and we're still making music."