All Fans is Encouraged to Become the Extra Haim Sister.
"Any idea when you're interviewing the band?" a message pops up. "I wanted to ask if I can join as their extra sister."
There's just a single issue: I also wants to be the Haims' fourth member. And we're far from alone. Several celebrated supporters have also begged for the honor.
The evidence suggests an irresistible appeal is at play. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana launched their musical journey performing shows at neighborhood delis with their parents. Now they're multi-time Grammy contenders.
In the tradition of the greatest groups, they're a tight-knit unit. Their visuals often feature them marching in sync down the roads of Los Angeles. On stage, they play with such unfettered happiness you find yourself thinking, "I want to be a piece of that, too."
"How often on tour that fans told us and said, 'After your show, I bought a guitar'," remarks Alana, the most junior of the Haim siblings. "It is the ultimate honor. That's an award in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can inspire people to start a band."
"Therefore everyone are welcome to be the fourth member of Haim."
Grammy Nod
The trio are connecting from home, where they're resting up after an major tour in for their fourth album, I Quit.
They're presently reeling from the news it's been shortlisted for best rock album at the Grammys – with Haim the very first all-woman band ever in consideration for the prize.
"I tune into the lists every year, so it kind of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is read out," explains Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this correctly or am I hallucinating'?"
The significance of the honor resonates with the sisters.
"We truly set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a significant milestone," says Alana. "But we're just thankful for the pioneers that inspired us."
Personal Turmoil and Humour
The album was born from a period of transition. All three sisters ended up single, and the music explores that unique transitional period where you're glad to be free, but not entirely ready to start anew.
The themes detail breakups and goodbyes. The sisters seek love, but not the kind of love they've experienced. You can hear them working out in real time who they are becoming.
"I adore description, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a mantra. You have to actively work on ignoring the criticism and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."
Refinement of Sound
That recent confidence demanded a new sound – more unpolished and powerful than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who helped produce the album, that started with the percussion.
"Drums are such a detailed thing, and I care so much about it," she emphasizes.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our memoir," jokes Alana. "I always say, our albums won't commence until we find the ideal drum sound."
Anecdotes and Shared Humor
The band's honesty inspired the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters revealed some of their personal horror stories.
One man ended things with Este over a medical concern. Alana recalled a story of flying to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.
"Experiencing these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's no light," explains Alana. "Thus to be able to share those stories and hear others tell you wilder stories, it's so amazing."
A Confident Legacy
You can clearly sense a shift in the band. Now, Haim are more confident of their position in the music world.
They're major draws, with successful albums and an worldwide fan base.
But Haim will always be their number one focus.
"We have been playing music since I was little," shares Alana. "It feels as if no alternative that we were destined for. And I'm really fortunate we've gotten here and we're still kicking."