All Fans is Invited to Join as the Fourth Haim Sisters Bandmate.
"Do you know when you'll be interviewing the band?" an inquiry pops up. "My request was to ask if I can be their extra sister."
There is only a key snag: I also desires to be Haim's additional sibling. And we're far from alone. Multiple high-profile supporters have also coveted the role.
It's clear something is going on. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana began their musical journey playing gigs at local delicatessens with their parents. Now they're multi-time Grammy nominees.
Similar to the most iconic ensembles, they're a tight-knit trio. Their videos often show them walking in unison down the roads of Los Angeles. On stage, they play with such pure exuberance you can't help but think, "I want to be part of that, too."
"The amount of times on tour that audience members came up to us and said, 'Seeing you perform, I bought a bass'," says Alana, the youngest of the Haim siblings. "That's the greatest honour. It is a prize in itself. We've done our job if we can inspire people to form a group."
"So all are welcome to be the next Haim sister."
Grammy Nod
The group have called into a break, where they're taking a pause after an extensive tour in promoting their new album, I Quit.
They're currently processing the news it's been nominated 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 a surreal movie when your name is announced," notes Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I dreaming'?"
The significance of the honor isn't lost on the sisters.
"We deliberately set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a major milestone," continues Alana. "However we're just thankful for the pioneers that paved the way."
Emotional Upheaval and Candor
The record emerged from a period of personal change. All three sisters were single, and the music explores that strange liminal space where you're glad to be free, but not quite ready to let go.
The words track departures and farewells. The sisters desire love, but not the kind of love they've got. You can hear them working out in real time who they are becoming.
"That's a perfect description, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a personal statement. You have to make an effort in ignoring the criticism and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Refinement of Style
That newfound confidence required a new sound – more unpolished and direct than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that began with the drums.
"Drums are such a detailed thing, and I am so passionate about it," she states.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the title of our biography," quips Alana. "Our motto is, our albums won't commence until we find the right drum sound."
Experiences and Collective Camaraderie
The band's candor inspired the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters shared some of their romantic horror stories.
A former partner broke up with Este over a medical concern. Alana shared a story of flying to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.
"Experiencing these breakups, you just feel like there's no light," notes Alana. "Therefore to be able to find humor in those stories and have them tell you more outrageous stories, it's incredible."
A Confident Future
It's not difficult sense a shift in the band. Now, Haim are more assured of their position in the rock pantheon.
They're major draws, with chart-topping albums and an worldwide fan base.
However the band will consistently be their number one priority.
"We have been performing since I was a young child," concludes Alana. "It's like no other path that we were supposed to do. And I'm really fortunate we've reached this point and we're still kicking."