The World is Invited to Be the Additional Haim Sister.
"Do you know when you'll be chatting with the band?" a text reads. "My request was to ask if I can become their extra sister."
There is only a key snag: I also desires to be Haim's fourth member. Furthermore, we are far from alone. Several high-profile admirers have publicly coveted the position.
The evidence suggests a special quality is going on. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana started their musical journey playing gigs at local delicatessens with their parents. Now they're multiple Grammy Award contenders.
Similar to the most iconic ensembles, they're a tight-knit trio. Their videos often show them striding in unison down the roads of Los Angeles. In concert, they perform with such boundless joy you can't help but think, "I'd love to be part of that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that young girls approached us and said, 'After your show, I bought a bass'," says Alana, the youngest of the Haim siblings. "That's the greatest compliment. That is recognition in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can inspire others to start a band."
"Therefore anyone gets an invitation to be the next part of the family."
Grammy Nod
The group are speaking from home, where they're recovering after an major tour in support of their new album, I Quit.
They're presently celebrating the news it's been in the running for Best Rock Album at the Grammys – with Haim the very first all-female band ever in contention for the award.
"I follow the nominations every year, so it sort of feels like The Truman Show when your name is announced," notes Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this correctly or am I imagining things'?"
The weight of the nomination is deeply felt by the trio.
"We truly set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a huge step," adds Alana. "Yet we're just thankful for the women that came before us."
Emotional Upheaval and Humour
The album emerged from a time 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 let go.
The themes track endings and goodbyes. The sisters want love, but not the relationships they've experienced. You can hear them determining in the moment who they want to be.
"That's a perfect summary, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a personal statement. 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 developed toughness demanded a fresh approach – more organic and immediate than any of the music the band had done before.
For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that was founded on the percussion.
"Percussion is such a nuanced thing, and I care so much about it," she emphasizes.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the title of our biography," quips Alana. "I've said it, our albums cannot begin until we find the perfect drum sound."
Stories and Shared Laughter
The trio's honesty shaped the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters revealed some of their romantic horror stories.
Someone broke up with Este over a health consideration. Alana recalled a story of travelling to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.
"Experiencing these setbacks, you just feel like there's no hope," notes Alana. "Thus to be able to find humor in those stories and hear others tell you wilder stories, it's so amazing."
A Secure Future
It's not difficult sense a evolution in the band. Today, Haim are more confident of their place in the industry.
They're top-billed acts, with hit albums and an worldwide following.
But Haim will consistently be their number one priority.
"Me and my siblings have been playing music since I was little," concludes Alana. "It feels as if no alternative that we were meant to do. And I'm really thankful we've reached this point and we're still going strong."