All Fans Are Encouraged to Be the Extra Haim Sisters Bandmate.
"Do you know when you'll be speaking to the Haim sisters?" a text pops up. "I wanted to ask if I can become their extra sister."
There's just one problem: The sender also desires to be Haim's fourth member. And we're in plentiful company. Multiple celebrated fans have also begged for the position.
It's clear an irresistible appeal is going on. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana began their path doing sets at neighborhood delis with their family. Today, they are multi-time Grammy Award contenders.
Like all the best bands, they're a close gang. Their visuals frequently feature them walking in unison down the avenues of Los Angeles. On stage, they perform with such unfettered joy you can't help but think, "I'd love to be involved in that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that audience members approached us and said, 'Watching you live, I got a drum kit'," remarks Alana, the youngest of the trio. "It is the biggest honor. It is a prize in itself. We have succeeded if we can inspire people to make music."
"Therefore everyone is invited to be the next part of the family."
Grammy Milestone
The band are connecting from a break, where they're recovering after an extensive tour in promoting their latest album, I Quit.
They're presently reeling from the news it's been shortlisted for best rock album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the very first all-female band ever in the running for the trophy.
"I tune into the lists every year, so it almost feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is read out," notes Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I hallucinating'?"
The significance of the accolade resonates with the band.
"We really set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a significant achievement," adds Alana. "However we're just grateful for the women that came before us."
Heartbreak and Candor
The record emerged from a period of transition. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music inhabits that unique transitional period where you're happy to be free, but not quite ready to start anew.
The lyrics track departures and partings. The sisters want love, but not the specific love they've got. You can hear them working out in real time who they aspire to be.
"That's a perfect summary, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is like a slogan. You have to consciously practice ignoring the noise and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Refinement of Sound
That newfound toughness required a fresh approach – more organic and powerful than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that started with the drums.
"Drums are such a nuanced thing, and I am so passionate about it," she emphasizes.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our book," quips Alana. "I always say, our albums don't start until we find the ideal drum sound."
Experiences and Shared Camaraderie
The band's openness inspired the album's marketing, where the sisters shared some of their romantic misadventures.
Someone broke up with Este over a medical concern. Alana recalled a story of flying to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture at midnight.
"When you're going through these setbacks, you just feel like there's no light," notes Alana. "Thus to be able to laugh at those stories and have them tell you more outrageous stories, it's therapeutic."
An Assured Future
One can easily sense a change in the band. Now, Haim are more certain of their standing in the music world.
They're festival headliners, with successful albums and an international following.
But the band will consistently be their top priority.
"We have been performing since I was little," says Alana. "It feels as if nothing else that we were destined for. And I'm really grateful we've gotten here and we're still making music."