Everyone is Encouraged to Become the Fourth Haim Sisters Sister.
"When are you speaking to Haim?" a message reads. "I wanted to ask if I can become their newest bandmate."
There is only one problem: I also wants to be the Haims' fourth member. Furthermore, we are in plentiful company. A host of high-profile supporters have also petitioned for the position.
The evidence suggests something is going on. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana launched their musical journey playing gigs at neighborhood delis with their parents. Today, they are repeated Grammy nominees.
Similar to the best bands, they're a close unit. Their music videos frequently depict them walking in unison down the streets of Los Angeles. In concert, they jam with such boundless exuberance you find yourself thinking, "I wish to be a piece of that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that young girls approached us and said, 'Seeing you perform, I picked up a drum kit'," remarks Alana, the youngest of the Haim siblings. "That is the greatest compliment. That's an award in itself. We've done our job if we can inspire others to start a band."
"So anyone gets an invitation to be the fourth part of the family."
Award Recognition
The band are speaking from a break, where they're taking a pause after an major tour in support of their fourth album, I Quit.
They're right now celebrating the news it's been nominated for Best Rock Album at the Grammys – with Haim the pioneering all-female band ever in consideration for the prize.
"I follow the announcements every year, so it kind of feels like The Truman Show when your name is read out," explains Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this correctly or am I hallucinating'?"
The importance of the nomination isn't lost on the band.
"We really set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a huge step," adds Alana. "But we're just appreciative for the pioneers that came before us."
Personal Turmoil and Laughter
The album came out of a phase of transition. All three sisters were single, and the music inhabits that strange transitional period where you're happy to be free, but not yet ready to let go.
The words track breakups and partings. The sisters seek love, but not the kind of love they've got. You can hear them figuring out in the moment who they are becoming.
"That's a perfect summary, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a personal statement. You have to consciously practice blocking the noise and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."
Evolution of Music
That newfound confidence required a different sonic direction – more organic and powerful than any of the music the band had done before.
For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that began with the percussion.
"Drums are such a nuanced thing, and I am so passionate about it," she says.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the title of our memoir," quips Alana. "Our motto is, our albums don't start until we find the perfect drum sound."
Anecdotes and Collective Camaraderie
The trio's openness shaped the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters shared some of their personal horror stories.
A former partner ended things with Este over a medical concern. Alana recalled a story of travelling to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.
"Experiencing these setbacks, you just feel like there's no light," notes Alana. "So to be able to find humor in those stories and have them tell you wilder stories, it's so amazing."
A Confident Future
You can clearly sense a evolution in the band. Now, Haim are more certain of their standing in the music world.
They're top-billed acts, with successful albums and an international audience.
But the band will always be their top priority.
"My sisters and I have been making music since I was a young child," says Alana. "It feels as if nothing else that we were destined for. And I'm really grateful we've made it and we're still kicking."
