All Fans Are Invited to Join as the Extra Haim Sister.
"Any idea when you're chatting with the band?" a message pops up. "My request was to ask if I can join as their newest bandmate."
There's just a key snag: I also longs to be Haim's fourth member. Furthermore, we are in plentiful company. Multiple famous admirers have publicly begged for the honor.
One thing is obvious a special quality is happening. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana started their career performing shows at local delicatessens with their family. Today, they are multi-time Grammy hopefuls.
Similar to the most iconic bands, they're a tight-knit unit. Their music videos repeatedly depict them marching in harmony down the roads of Los Angeles. During performances, they play with such boundless joy you find yourself thinking, "I want to be a piece of that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that young girls approached us and said, 'After your show, I picked up a guitar'," states Alana, the youngest of the sisters. "That's the ultimate honor. It is a prize in itself. We've done our job if we can inspire others to make music."
"Therefore anyone are welcome to be the next part of the family."
Historic Nod
The trio are connecting from home, where they're recovering after an extensive tour in for their new album, I Quit.
They're right now reeling from the news it's been in the running for a top rock honor at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the very first all-woman band ever in the running for the trophy.
"I tune into the nominations every year, so it almost feels like The Truman Show when your name is announced," explains Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this correctly or am I dreaming'?"
The importance of the nomination is deeply felt by the trio.
"We truly set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a major step," continues Alana. "However we're just appreciative for the pioneers that came before us."
Emotional Upheaval and Candor
The album emerged from a period of emotional upheaval. All three sisters were single, and the music inhabits that odd in-between place where you're relieved to be free, but not entirely ready to let go.
The themes follow departures and farewells. The sisters want love, but not the specific love they've had. You can hear them determining in the moment who they want to be.
"That's a perfect summary, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is like a personal statement. You have to make an effort in ignoring the noise and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."
Evolution of Style
That newfound confidence called for a fresh approach – more raw and direct than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who helped produce the album, that began with the drums.
"Drums are such a nuanced thing, and I care so much about it," she emphasizes.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our book," quips Alana. "I always say, our albums don't start until we find the perfect drum sound."
Anecdotes and Collective Humor
The trio's honesty fueled the album's rollout, where the sisters revealed some of their dating misadventures.
A former partner broke up with Este over a medical concern. Alana told a story of travelling to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.
"Experiencing these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's no hope," explains Alana. "So to be able to laugh at those stories and hear others tell you more outrageous stories, it's incredible."
A Secure Legacy
You can clearly sense a evolution in the band. These days, Haim are more certain of their position in the music world.
They're major draws, with chart-topping albums and an worldwide following.
But the sister act will always be their top commitment.
"Me and my siblings have been playing music since I was little," says Alana. "There is nothing else that we were destined for. And I'm really thankful we've gotten here and we're still going strong."
