The World Are Welcome to Join as the Fourth Haim Member.
"Do you know when you'll be interviewing the band?" a message arrives. "I wanted to ask if I can join as their newest bandmate."
However, there remains a single issue: The sender also desires to be Haim's additional sibling. What's more, we are far from alone. Multiple high-profile admirers have openly begged for the role.
One thing is obvious a special quality is at play. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana began their career playing gigs at neighborhood delis with their parents. Today, they are multiple Grammy Award hopefuls.
In the tradition of the best bands, they're a close trio. Their visuals frequently depict them walking in unison down the streets of Los Angeles. In concert, they play with such unfettered happiness you inevitably think, "I wish to be part of that, too."
"How often on tour that fans told us and said, 'Watching you live, I bought a guitar'," says Alana, the most junior of the Haim siblings. "It is the ultimate honor. That is recognition in itself. We've done our job if we can inspire others to form a group."
"So all is invited to be the fourth Haim sister."
Grammy Recognition
The band are speaking from a break, where they're recovering after an major tour in support of their fourth album, I Quit.
They're right now processing the news it's been shortlisted for a top rock honor at the Grammys – with Haim the very first female band ever in the running for the prize.
"I watch the nominations every year, so it kind of feels like a surreal movie when your name is called," notes Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I dreaming'?"
The significance of the honor is deeply felt by the sisters.
"We deliberately set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a major step," says Alana. "Yet we're just appreciative for the women that came before us."
Heartbreak and Humour
The album emerged from a time of transition. All three sisters were single, and the music captures that strange transitional period where you're relieved to be free, but not yet ready to start anew.
The themes detail breakups and farewells. The sisters desire love, but not the relationships they've experienced. You can hear them determining in real time who they are becoming.
"That's a perfect summary, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is like a slogan. You have to consciously practice shutting out the noise and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Development of Sound
That newfound toughness required a new sound – more organic and direct than any of the music the band had done before.
For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that was founded on the percussion.
"The drum sound is such a nuanced thing, and I am so passionate about it," she says.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our book," jokes Alana. "I always say, our albums won't commence until we find the perfect drum sound."
Stories and Collective Laughter
The band's candor fueled the album's rollout, where the sisters shared some of their romantic horror stories.
One man left Este over a medical concern. Alana told a story of flying to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a friendly slap at midnight.
"During these breakups, you just feel like there's only darkness," notes Alana. "Therefore to be able to share those stories and hear others tell you more outrageous stories, it's so amazing."
A Secure Legacy
It's not difficult sense a shift in the band. These days, Haim are more certain of their position in the rock pantheon.
They're top-billed acts, with successful albums and an worldwide audience.
However Haim will consistently be their primary commitment.
"We have been making music since I was little," concludes Alana. "It feels as if no other path that we were meant to do. And I'm really thankful we've gotten here and we're still going strong."