Everyone Are Invited to Become the Extra Haim Sisters Sister.
"When are you speaking to the band?" an inquiry arrives. "I wanted to ask if I can be their fourth member."
There is only a key snag: The author likewise desires to be Haim's newest recruit. What's more, we are far from alone. Multiple high-profile fans have openly begged for the honor.
One thing is obvious an irresistible appeal is at play. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana started their path performing shows at small eateries with their family. Presently, they stand as repeated Grammy nominees.
In the tradition of the most iconic ensembles, they're a close gang. Their visuals often depict them marching in unison down the avenues of Los Angeles. In concert, they perform with such unfettered joy you find yourself thinking, "I'd love to be a piece of that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that young girls told us and said, 'Watching you live, I picked up a drum kit'," states Alana, the most junior of the Haim siblings. "That is the biggest compliment. That's an award in itself. We have succeeded if we can motivate young girls to form a group."
"So all gets an invitation to be the fourth Haim sister."
Grammy Recognition
The trio are speaking from home, where they're resting up after an major tour in support of their latest album, I Quit.
They're presently processing the news it's been nominated for Best Rock Album at the Grammys – with Haim the very first all-female band ever in the running for the prize.
"I tune into the announcements every year, so it sort 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 I hear this right or am I hallucinating'?"
The significance of the accolade isn't lost on the sisters.
"We truly set out to make a rock album this time, so it's a significant step," adds Alana. "Yet we're just thankful for the female artists that paved the way."
Emotional Upheaval and Laughter
The album was born from a period of emotional upheaval. All three sisters ended up single, and the music captures that strange in-between place where you're glad to be free, but not yet ready to move on.
The lyrics detail departures and goodbyes. The sisters desire love, but not the kind of love they've got. You can hear them working out in real life who they want to be.
"I love summary, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a mantra. You have to make an effort in shutting out the criticism and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Refinement of Style
That recent resilience called for a different sonic direction – more unpolished and powerful than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that was founded on the percussion.
"The drum sound is such a detailed thing, and I am so passionate about it," she says.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our biography," quips Alana. "Our motto is, our albums don't start until we find the perfect drum sound."
Stories and Collective Laughter
The trio's candor shaped the album's marketing, where the sisters disclosed some of their personal tales.
One man ended things with Este over a medical consideration. Alana recalled a story of travelling to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a friendly slap at midnight.
"When you're going through these setbacks, you just feel like there's no light," says Alana. "Therefore to be able to laugh at those stories and have them tell you more outrageous stories, it's incredible."
An Assured Legacy
One can easily sense a shift in the band. Now, Haim are more certain of their position in the rock pantheon.
They're major draws, with hit albums and an international fan base.
However Haim will consistently be their top commitment.
"We have been performing since I was a young child," concludes Alana. "There is nothing else that we were supposed to do. And I'm really thankful we've made it and we're still making music."