The World Are Invited to Be the Extra Haim Sisters Member.
"When are you chatting with the band?" a text pops up. "I wanted to ask if I can be their fourth member."
There is only a single issue: The author likewise longs to be Haim's additional sibling. And we're not alone. Multiple high-profile supporters have publicly coveted the position.
The evidence suggests a special quality is happening. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana started their musical journey playing gigs at small eateries with their parents. Presently, they stand as multi-time Grammy nominees.
Like all the best groups, they're a tight-knit gang. Their visuals often show them marching in sync down the roads of Los Angeles. In concert, they jam with such boundless exuberance you inevitably think, "I want to be part of that, too."
"How often on tour that fans told us and said, 'Watching you live, I got a bass'," states Alana, the youngest of the Haim siblings. "It is the greatest compliment. That's an award in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can motivate others to form a group."
"Therefore all are welcome to be the next part of the family."
Award Nod
The band are connecting from their homes, where they're taking a pause after an lengthy tour in for their fourth album, I Quit.
They're right now reeling from the news it's been shortlisted for best rock album at the Grammys – with Haim the first female band ever in consideration for the prize.
"I tune into the announcements every year, so it almost feels like The Truman Show when your name is read out," notes Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this right or am I imagining things'?"
The significance of the accolade is deeply felt by the trio.
"We truly set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a huge achievement," says Alana. "However we're just grateful for the women that came before us."
Personal Turmoil and Humour
The project came out of a phase of personal change. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music captures that strange transitional period where you're glad to be free, but not yet ready to move on.
The lyrics follow endings and goodbyes. The sisters desire love, but not the specific love they've had. You can hear them determining in the moment who they are becoming.
"That's a perfect way of putting it, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a mantra. You have to make an effort in blocking the noise and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Refinement of Sound
That recent confidence called for a different sonic direction – more unpolished and immediate than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that started with the drums.
"Percussion is such a nuanced thing, and I am so passionate about it," she states.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our book," jokes Alana. "Our motto is, our albums won't commence until we find the right drum sound."
Anecdotes and Collective Camaraderie
The band's candor shaped the album's marketing, where the sisters disclosed some of their personal tales.
A former partner broke up with Este over a medical consideration. Alana shared a story of flying to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a friendly slap at midnight.
"During these setbacks, you just feel like there's no light," explains Alana. "So to be able to share those stories and hear others tell you wilder stories, it's so amazing."
A Confident Future
You can clearly sense a shift in the band. Today, Haim are more certain of their position in the rock pantheon.
They're top-billed acts, with successful albums and an international following.
Yet the band will forever be their number one commitment.
"Me and my siblings have been making music since I was little," concludes Alana. "It feels as if nothing else that we were supposed to do. And I'm really thankful we've reached this point and we're still kicking."