All Fans Are Encouraged to Become the Extra Haim Sisters Bandmate.
"When are you chatting with Haim?" a text reads. "I was hoping to ask if I can join as their fourth member."
However, there remains one problem: The sender also wants to be the Haims' fourth member. Furthermore, we are not alone. Several famous admirers have also petitioned for the honor.
The evidence suggests something is going on. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana started their musical journey doing sets at neighborhood delis with their family. Presently, they stand as multiple Grammy Award contenders.
In the tradition of the greatest bands, they're a close trio. Their music videos repeatedly depict them marching in sync down the streets of Los Angeles. In concert, they perform with such pure happiness you find yourself thinking, "I wish to be part of that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that audience members told us and said, 'Seeing you perform, I bought a guitar'," says Alana, the youngest of the sisters. "It is the greatest honour. That's an award in itself. We've done our job if we can encourage people to make music."
"So all is invited to be the next member of Haim."
Grammy Milestone
The trio are connecting from a break, where they're recovering after an major tour in support of their new album, I Quit.
They're right now processing the news it's been nominated for best rock album at the Grammys – with Haim the pioneering 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 read out," explains Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this right or am I hallucinating'?"
The significance of the nomination resonates with the band.
"We deliberately set out to make a rock album this time, so it's a huge achievement," says Alana. "But we're just thankful for the pioneers that inspired us."
Emotional Upheaval and Laughter
The album emerged from a period of transition. All three sisters ended up single, and the music captures that odd liminal space where you're glad to be free, but not entirely ready to let go.
The lyrics track endings and farewells. The sisters seek love, but not the specific love they've experienced. You can hear them determining in the moment who they want to be.
"I adore description, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a mantra. You have to actively work on blocking the criticism and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Evolution of Style
That recent toughness called for a different sonic direction – more unpolished and direct than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that started with the percussion.
"Percussion is such a nuanced thing, and I focus so intensely about it," she says.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our memoir," laughs Alana. "I always say, our albums cannot begin until we find the perfect drum sound."
Anecdotes and Collective Camaraderie
The trio's honesty fueled the album's rollout, where the sisters revealed some of their personal misadventures.
Someone left Este over a medical concern. Alana recalled a story of flying to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a friendly slap at midnight.
"Experiencing these breakups, you just feel like there's no light," explains Alana. "Therefore to be able to find humor in those stories and hear others tell you more outrageous stories, it's so amazing."
A Secure Path
You can clearly sense a shift in the band. Today, Haim are more confident of their place in the industry.
They're festival headliners, with successful albums and an global following.
However the band will consistently be their number one commitment.
"My sisters and I have been performing since I was a young child," shares Alana. "It's like no alternative that we were destined for. And I'm really fortunate we've gotten here and we're still making music."