The World is Encouraged to Join as the Additional Haim Sisters Member.
"When are you speaking to Haim?" a text arrives. "I wanted to ask if I can be their extra sister."
There's just a single issue: The author likewise longs to be Haim's fourth member. Furthermore, we are not alone. Multiple famous admirers have openly begged for the role.
It's clear a special quality is happening. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana started their musical journey performing shows at small eateries with their parents. Presently, they stand as multi-time Grammy nominees.
Similar to the greatest bands, they're a inseparable trio. Their videos frequently feature them striding in unison down the streets of Los Angeles. On stage, they jam with such boundless exuberance you find yourself thinking, "I want to be a piece of that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that audience members told us and said, 'After your show, I got a guitar'," remarks Alana, the most junior of the Haim siblings. "It is the biggest honor. It is a prize in itself. We have succeeded if we can encourage people to form a group."
"And thus anyone gets an invitation to be the honorary Haim sister."
Award Milestone
The band are connecting from their homes, where they're recovering after an extensive tour in for their fourth album, I Quit.
They're right now processing 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 prize.
"I follow the lists every year, so it sort of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is called," says Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this correctly or am I hallucinating'?"
The importance of the nomination isn't lost on the band.
"We really set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a huge achievement," continues Alana. "However we're just grateful for the pioneers that inspired us."
Heartbreak and Humour
The record was born from a time of emotional upheaval. All three sisters ended up single, and the music inhabits that odd liminal space where you're relieved to be free, but not entirely ready to move on.
The lyrics detail departures and partings. The sisters want love, but not the kind of love they've got. You can hear them determining in real time who they are becoming.
"I adore description, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a mantra. You have to actively work on ignoring the criticism and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Development of Sound
That developed confidence called for a fresh approach – more raw and immediate than any of the music the band had done before.
For Danielle, who helped produce the album, that began with the drum sound.
"Drums are such a nuanced thing, and I care so much about it," she says.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the title of our book," quips Alana. "I've said it, our albums don't start until we find the perfect drum sound."
Experiences and Shared Humor
The trio's candor inspired the album's rollout, where the sisters shared some of their romantic misadventures.
One man broke up with Este over a medical concern. Alana shared a story of travelling to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.
"During these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's no hope," notes Alana. "Therefore to be able to laugh at those stories and hear others tell you wilder stories, it's so amazing."
A Confident Legacy
You can clearly sense a evolution in the band. Today, Haim are more certain of their place in the industry.
They're major draws, with hit albums and an worldwide fan base.
However Haim will always be their primary focus.
"My sisters and I have been making music since I was a young child," says Alana. "It feels as if nothing else that we were destined for. And I'm really fortunate we've gotten here and we're still making music."