Everyone Are Invited to Be the Extra Haim Sister.
"Do you know when you'll be chatting with the band?" a text pops up. "I was hoping to ask if I can be their fourth member."
There's just one problem: The author likewise desires to be Haim's fourth member. What's more, we are in plentiful company. Several high-profile fans have also begged for the role.
One thing is obvious something is at play. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana began their musical journey performing shows at small eateries with their family. Now they're repeated Grammy Award nominees.
Similar to the most iconic bands, they're a inseparable unit. Their music videos frequently feature them walking in unison down the streets of Los Angeles. In concert, they jam with such pure exuberance you find yourself thinking, "I'd love to be part of that, too."
"The amount of times on tour that young girls approached us and said, 'After your show, I bought a bass'," states Alana, the most junior of the trio. "It is the ultimate compliment. That's an award in itself. We've done our job if we can inspire young girls to form a group."
"Therefore all gets an invitation to be the fourth part of the family."
Historic Recognition
The band are connecting from a break, where they're taking a pause after an lengthy tour in for their fourth album, I Quit.
They're right now celebrating the news it's been shortlisted for Best Rock Album at the Grammys – with Haim the first female band ever in contention for the prize.
"I watch the lists every year, so it almost feels like a surreal movie when your name is called," notes Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this right or am I imagining things'?"
The weight of the accolade isn't lost on the band.
"We deliberately set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a huge step," continues Alana. "However we're just thankful for the female artists that inspired us."
Heartbreak and Humour
The record was born from a phase of personal change. All three sisters were single, and the music captures that odd transitional period where you're relieved to be free, but not entirely ready to move on.
The themes follow endings and partings. The sisters want love, but not the relationships they've had. You can hear them determining in real life who they want to be.
"I love description, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a slogan. You have to make an effort in blocking the criticism and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."
Evolution of Music
That developed toughness demanded a fresh approach – more raw and direct than any of the music the band had done before.
For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that began with the drum sound.
"Percussion is such a nuanced thing, and I am so passionate about it," she emphasizes.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our memoir," laughs Alana. "I've said it, our albums don't start until we find the perfect drum sound."
Experiences and Collective Camaraderie
The trio's candor fueled the album's marketing, where the sisters disclosed some of their personal horror stories.
One man broke up with Este over a medical concern. Alana told a story of flying to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture at midnight.
"During these breakups, you just feel like there's no hope," explains Alana. "So to be able to share those stories and hear others tell you even crazier stories, it's so amazing."
A Secure Future
You can clearly sense a evolution in the band. Now, Haim are more certain of their position in the rock pantheon.
They're major draws, with hit albums and an global audience.
Yet Haim will forever be their top priority.
"Me and my siblings have been playing music since I was little," says Alana. "It feels as if no other path that we were meant to do. And I'm really fortunate we've reached this point and we're still going strong."
