Everyone Are Encouraged to Join as the Extra Haim Member.
"When are you interviewing Haim?" a message arrives. "My request was to ask if I can be their newest bandmate."
There is only a key snag: The sender also desires to be Haim's fourth member. Furthermore, we are far from alone. Multiple famous supporters have openly begged for the position.
The evidence suggests something is going on. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana began their career performing shows at small eateries with their family. Presently, they stand as multi-time Grammy nominees.
Like all the best groups, they're a tight-knit trio. Their music videos repeatedly depict them striding in sync down the avenues of Los Angeles. On stage, they play with such pure exuberance you find yourself thinking, "I'd love to be a piece of that, too."
"How often on tour that young girls came up to us and said, 'After your show, I got a drum kit'," remarks Alana, the most junior of the Haim siblings. "That's the biggest honor. That's an award in itself. We have succeeded if we can inspire people to make music."
"So all is invited to be the fourth Haim sister."
Historic Recognition
The trio have called into a break, where they're resting up after an major tour in for their new album, I Quit.
They're currently reeling from the news it's been in the running for best rock album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the very first all-female band ever in contention for the trophy.
"I watch the announcements every year, so it almost feels like a surreal movie when your name is read out," says Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this correctly or am I imagining things'?"
The weight of the accolade resonates with the band.
"We really set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a major milestone," continues Alana. "However we're just thankful for the female artists that came before us."
Emotional Upheaval and Humour
The record came out of a period of transition. All three sisters were single, and the music captures that strange in-between place where you're relieved to be free, but not entirely ready to let go.
The themes track endings and goodbyes. The sisters desire love, but not the relationships they've had. You can hear them determining in the moment who they want to be.
"I adore description, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is like a slogan. You have to make an effort in shutting out the outside opinions and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."
Refinement of Sound
That newfound toughness called for a different sonic direction – more raw and powerful than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that was founded on the drum sound.
"Drums are such a specific thing, and I am so passionate about it," she states.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the title of our book," quips Alana. "I always say, our albums don't start until we find the ideal drum sound."
Stories and Collective Laughter
The trio's honesty fueled the album's rollout, where the sisters disclosed some of their dating tales.
Someone ended things with Este over a health concern. Alana shared a story of travelling to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture at midnight.
"Experiencing these setbacks, you just feel like there's no light," notes Alana. "Thus to be able to find humor in those stories and have them tell you more outrageous stories, it's so amazing."
An Assured Future
One can easily sense a evolution in the band. Now, Haim are more assured of their place in the rock pantheon.
They're festival headliners, with hit albums and an international fan base.
But Haim will forever be their top commitment.
"My sisters and I have been making music since I was a young child," shares Alana. "There is no other path that we were supposed to do. And I'm really thankful we've reached this point and we're still going strong."