The World Are Encouraged to Become the Extra Haim Sister.
"Do you know when you'll be interviewing the Haim sisters?" a message arrives. "I wanted to ask if I can become their extra sister."
There is only a key snag: The author likewise desires to be the Haims' fourth member. What's more, we are far from alone. Several high-profile supporters have openly coveted the honor.
The evidence suggests an irresistible appeal is happening. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana started their path playing gigs at local delicatessens with their family. Today, they are multiple Grammy contenders.
Similar to the most iconic bands, they're a close trio. Their videos frequently depict them striding in harmony down the roads of Los Angeles. On stage, they jam with such boundless joy you find yourself thinking, "I wish to be a piece of that, too."
"The amount of times on tour that young girls approached us and said, 'Watching you live, I got a bass'," says Alana, the youngest of the sisters. "That's the greatest honour. It is a prize in itself. We've done our job if we can encourage people to make music."
"Therefore everyone gets an invitation to be the fourth member of Haim."
Award Nod
The trio have called into a break, where they're recovering after an extensive tour in for their new album, I Quit.
They're right now processing the news it's been nominated for a top rock honor at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the first female band ever in the running for the prize.
"I follow the nominations every year, so it sort of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is called," explains Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I dreaming'?"
The importance of the accolade resonates with the band.
"We really set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a huge achievement," says Alana. "However we're just thankful for the female artists that came before us."
Personal Turmoil and Laughter
The record was born from a period of personal change. All three sisters were single, and the music inhabits that unique liminal space where you're relieved to be free, but not quite ready to let go.
The themes follow endings and goodbyes. The sisters seek love, but not the relationships they've experienced. You can hear them working out in real time who they want to be.
"I adore description, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a slogan. You have to actively work on shutting out the outside opinions and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."
Development of Style
That recent resilience required a different sonic direction – more unpolished and direct than any of the music the band had done before.
For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that was founded on the drums.
"The drum sound is such a nuanced thing, and I am so passionate about it," she emphasizes.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our book," jokes Alana. "I've said it, our albums cannot begin until we find the right drum sound."
Experiences and Collective Laughter
The trio's openness fueled the album's marketing, where the sisters shared some of their romantic misadventures.
Someone left Este over a medical consideration. Alana recalled a story of travelling to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.
"When you're going through these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's only darkness," explains Alana. "Thus to be able to laugh at those stories and hear others tell you even crazier stories, it's so amazing."
A Confident Future
You can clearly sense a evolution in the band. Now, Haim are more confident of their standing in the music world.
They're major draws, with chart-topping albums and an global audience.
Yet Haim will forever be their top focus.
"We have been making music since I was a young child," shares Alana. "It feels as if no alternative that we were supposed to do. And I'm really grateful we've reached this point and we're still going strong."