The World Are Encouraged to Join as the Additional Haim Bandmate.
"Do you know when you'll be interviewing Haim?" a text pops up. "My request was to ask if I can become their fourth member."
There is only a key snag: The sender also longs to be the Haims' fourth member. What's more, we are far from alone. A host of celebrated supporters have openly coveted the honor.
The evidence suggests an irresistible appeal is happening. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana began their career performing shows at local delicatessens with their parents. Now they're repeated Grammy Award nominees.
Like all the greatest groups, they're a inseparable trio. Their visuals frequently depict them striding in harmony down the avenues of Los Angeles. In concert, they jam with such boundless exuberance you find yourself thinking, "I want to be involved in that, too."
"How often on tour that audience members came up to us and said, 'After your show, I picked up a drum kit'," says Alana, the most junior of the trio. "That's the ultimate compliment. That's an award in itself. We've done our job if we can encourage young girls to form a group."
"And thus all are welcome to be the honorary Haim sister."
Grammy Milestone
The group 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 Best Rock Album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the pioneering female band ever in contention for the prize.
"I watch the lists every year, so it sort of feels like The Truman Show when your name is read out," explains Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this right or am I imagining things'?"
The importance of the honor resonates with the sisters.
"We truly set out to make a rock album this time, so it's a huge achievement," adds Alana. "But we're just thankful for the pioneers that inspired us."
Emotional Upheaval and Laughter
The record came out of a phase of emotional upheaval. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music captures that odd transitional period where you're relieved to be free, but not quite ready to start anew.
The words detail breakups and farewells. The sisters want love, but not the kind of love they've had. You can hear them working out in real life who they are becoming.
"That's a perfect summary, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a mantra. You have to make an effort in blocking the noise and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."
Development of Sound
That developed resilience demanded a new sound – more raw and powerful than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who helped produce the album, that began with the drum sound.
"Percussion is such a specific thing, and I care so much about it," she states.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the title of our biography," laughs Alana. "I've said it, our albums don't start until we find the perfect drum sound."
Stories and Collective Camaraderie
The band's openness fueled the album's marketing, where the sisters disclosed some of their romantic horror stories.
One man broke up with Este over a health consideration. Alana recalled a story of flying to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture at midnight.
"Experiencing these breakups, you just feel like there's no light," explains Alana. "Thus to be able to share those stories and have them tell you even crazier stories, it's so amazing."
An Assured Legacy
It's not difficult sense a evolution in the band. Now, Haim are more certain of their place in the music world.
They're major draws, with successful albums and an international fan base.
However Haim will forever be their primary priority.
"We have been playing music since I was little," shares Alana. "It feels as if nothing else that we were supposed to do. And I'm really fortunate we've gotten here and we're still making music."