Everyone Are Invited to Become the Fourth Haim Sister.
"When are you chatting with the band?" a message reads. "My request was to ask if I can join as their newest bandmate."
There is only a key snag: The author likewise longs to be the Haims' additional sibling. What's more, we are not alone. Several celebrated supporters have also begged for the role.
The evidence suggests an irresistible appeal is at play. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana began their career doing sets at local delicatessens with their parents. Today, they are repeated Grammy Award hopefuls.
Similar to the greatest bands, they're a inseparable trio. Their visuals often show them marching in sync down the roads of Los Angeles. On stage, they jam with such unfettered joy you find yourself thinking, "I wish to be involved in that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that fans came up to us and said, 'Seeing you perform, I picked up a drum kit'," remarks Alana, the youngest of the sisters. "It is the biggest compliment. It is a prize in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can inspire people to start a band."
"So all are welcome to be the honorary part of the family."
Grammy Milestone
The trio have called into their homes, where they're recovering after an extensive tour in support of their fourth album, I Quit.
They're currently celebrating the news it's been in the running for Best Rock Album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the very first female band ever in contention for the trophy.
"I watch the announcements every year, so it almost feels like The Truman Show when your name is read out," says Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I hallucinating'?"
The importance of the accolade is deeply felt by the sisters.
"We really set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a huge step," continues Alana. "Yet we're just grateful for the female artists that came before us."
Heartbreak and Laughter
The project came out of a period of personal change. All three sisters were single, and the music inhabits that strange liminal space where you're glad to be free, but not yet ready to move on.
The themes detail departures and farewells. The sisters want love, but not the relationships 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 like a personal statement. You have to consciously practice ignoring the criticism and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."
Evolution of Style
That newfound confidence called for a different sonic direction – more raw and direct than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who helped produce the album, that began with the drums.
"Drums are such a nuanced thing, and I focus so intensely about it," she states.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our memoir," laughs Alana. "I've said it, our albums cannot begin until we find the right drum sound."
Stories and Shared Laughter
The trio's openness shaped the album's rollout, where the sisters disclosed some of their romantic horror stories.
Someone left Este over a health concern. Alana shared a story of flying to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a friendly slap at midnight.
"Experiencing these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's only darkness," explains Alana. "Therefore to be able to laugh at those stories and hear others tell you even crazier stories, it's incredible."
An Assured Legacy
One can easily sense a change in the band. Today, Haim are more confident of their standing in the rock pantheon.
They're major draws, with chart-topping albums and an international fan base.
However Haim will always be their number one priority.
"We have been making music since I was a young child," says Alana. "There is no alternative that we were meant to do. And I'm really grateful we've gotten here and we're still making music."