Everyone Are Invited to Be the Extra Haim Member.
"When are you speaking to the Haim sisters?" a text pops up. "My request was to ask if I can become their extra sister."
However, there remains a single issue: I also longs to be Haim's additional sibling. And we're not alone. A host of famous supporters have publicly petitioned for the honor.
The evidence suggests something is at play. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana started their career doing sets at neighborhood delis with their parents. Presently, they stand as multiple Grammy hopefuls.
Similar to the greatest bands, they're a inseparable trio. Their music videos repeatedly show them striding in sync down the streets of Los Angeles. During performances, they perform with such unfettered happiness you find yourself thinking, "I'd love to be involved in that, too."
"How often on tour that fans told us and said, 'After your show, I got a bass'," states Alana, the most junior of the trio. "It is the biggest honour. That is recognition in itself. We've done our job if we can encourage others to make music."
"So all is invited to be the fourth member of Haim."
Award Recognition
The band are speaking from a break, where they're taking a pause after an major tour in for their new album, I Quit.
They're currently reeling from the news it's been nominated for best rock album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the very first female band ever in consideration for the trophy.
"I watch the nominations every year, so it sort of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is read out," notes Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this right or am I dreaming'?"
The significance of the honor is deeply felt by the band.
"We truly set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a major milestone," says Alana. "But we're just thankful for the women that paved the way."
Heartbreak and Candor
The album was born from a phase of personal change. All three sisters were single, and the music explores that strange liminal space where you're relieved to be free, but not entirely ready to let go.
The lyrics follow departures and goodbyes. The sisters desire love, but not the specific love they've got. You can hear them figuring out in real time who they are becoming.
"That's a perfect summary, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a slogan. You have to make an effort in blocking the criticism and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."
Refinement of Sound
That developed resilience called for a new sound – more organic and direct than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that started with the drum sound.
"The drum sound is such a specific thing, and I care so much about it," she says.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our book," jokes Alana. "I've said it, our albums don't start until we find the ideal drum sound."
Stories and Shared Camaraderie
The band's openness fueled the album's marketing, where the sisters shared some of their dating tales.
One man left Este over a health concern. Alana shared a story of travelling to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture at midnight.
"When you're going through these breakups, you just feel like there's no light," notes Alana. "Therefore to be able to laugh at those stories and have them tell you more outrageous stories, it's therapeutic."
A Confident Legacy
You can clearly sense a evolution in the band. Now, Haim are more certain of their place in the industry.
They're top-billed acts, with hit albums and an global audience.
However the band will always be their top focus.
"Me and my siblings have been making music since I was four," concludes Alana. "It feels as if nothing else that we were meant to do. And I'm really thankful we've reached this point and we're still going strong."
