All Fans Are Invited to Become the Fourth Haim Sisters Member.
"When are you speaking to the Haim sisters?" a message pops up. "I was hoping to ask if I can become their newest bandmate."
There's just a single issue: The sender also wants to be Haim's additional sibling. What's more, we are not alone. Several famous supporters have also petitioned for the position.
It's clear an irresistible appeal is at play. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana launched their path playing gigs at small eateries with their parents. Now they're multi-time Grammy nominees.
In the tradition of the greatest bands, they're a tight-knit unit. Their visuals often depict them walking in sync down the roads of Los Angeles. In concert, they play with such pure happiness you find yourself thinking, "I'd love to be part of that, too."
"How often on tour that fans told us and said, 'After your show, I picked up a drum kit'," remarks Alana, the youngest of the Haim siblings. "That is the biggest compliment. That is recognition in itself. We have succeeded if we can inspire young girls to make music."
"So all is invited to be the fourth Haim sister."
Historic Recognition
The band have called into home, where they're resting up after an lengthy tour in promoting their fourth album, I Quit.
They're presently celebrating the news it's been nominated for best rock album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the first all-female band ever in the running for the award.
"I follow the nominations every year, so it kind of feels like The Truman Show when your name is read out," notes Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this correctly or am I imagining things'?"
The significance of the honor resonates with the trio.
"We truly set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a major step," says Alana. "Yet we're just thankful for the pioneers that paved the way."
Personal Turmoil and Humour
The record came out of a phase of emotional upheaval. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music explores that odd transitional period where you're relieved to be free, but not entirely ready to start anew.
The lyrics detail endings and farewells. The sisters seek love, but not the specific love they've experienced. You can hear them figuring out in the moment who they are becoming.
"I adore description, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a mantra. You have to make an effort in ignoring the outside opinions and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."
Evolution of Style
That newfound confidence required a different sonic direction – more organic and immediate than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that was founded on the drums.
"Drums are such a specific thing, and I am so passionate about it," she states.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our memoir," jokes Alana. "I always say, our albums won't commence until we find the right drum sound."
Experiences and Collective Camaraderie
The band's candor fueled the album's rollout, where the sisters shared some of their dating tales.
One man broke up with Este over a health consideration. Alana told a story of flying to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a friendly slap at midnight.
"During these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's only darkness," says Alana. "Thus to be able to find humor in those stories and have them tell you wilder stories, it's therapeutic."
A Secure Future
One can easily sense a shift in the band. Today, Haim are more confident of their standing in the industry.
They're festival headliners, with chart-topping albums and an global following.
However the band will forever be their top priority.
"Me and my siblings have been making music since I was a young child," concludes Alana. "It's like nothing else that we were destined for. And I'm really thankful we've gotten here and we're still going strong."