All Fans Are Invited to Join as the Additional Haim Sisters Bandmate.
"Any idea when you're speaking to the Haim sisters?" an inquiry reads. "I was hoping to ask if I can be their fourth member."
However, there remains a single issue: The author likewise wants to be Haim's fourth member. Furthermore, we are not alone. Multiple famous admirers have also begged for the role.
The evidence suggests something is going on. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana began their path doing sets at neighborhood delis with their parents. Now they're repeated Grammy nominees.
Similar to the greatest groups, they're a tight-knit unit. Their videos frequently feature them marching in sync down the roads of Los Angeles. In concert, they perform with such unfettered happiness you can't help but think, "I'd love to be part of that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that fans approached us and said, 'Watching you live, I picked up a drum kit'," states Alana, the youngest of the sisters. "That is the ultimate honour. It is a prize in itself. We have succeeded if we can encourage young girls to form a group."
"So anyone are welcome to be the honorary member of Haim."
Grammy Nod
The group are speaking from home, where they're resting up after an extensive tour in support of their latest album, I Quit.
They're presently celebrating the news it's been shortlisted for Best Rock Album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the pioneering female band ever in consideration for the trophy.
"I watch the lists every year, so it sort of feels like a surreal movie when your name is announced," explains Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this right or am I imagining things'?"
The significance of the nomination is deeply felt by the band.
"We truly set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a major milestone," says Alana. "Yet we're just grateful for the women that inspired us."
Emotional Upheaval and Humour
The album came out of a phase of personal change. All three sisters were single, and the music explores that strange in-between place where you're glad to be free, but not yet ready to move on.
The words follow endings and farewells. The sisters desire love, but not the relationships they've had. You can hear them figuring out in the moment who they are becoming.
"That's a perfect summary, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a mantra. You have to actively work on shutting out the outside opinions and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."
Refinement of Sound
That developed toughness required a new sound – more organic and direct than any of the music the band had done before.
For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that began with the drum sound.
"The drum sound is such a nuanced thing, and I am so passionate about it," she says.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our memoir," laughs Alana. "I've said it, our albums won't commence until we find the ideal drum sound."
Stories and Collective Camaraderie
The band's honesty fueled the album's marketing, where the sisters revealed some of their personal tales.
One man left Este over a health consideration. Alana recalled a story of travelling to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a friendly slap at midnight.
"Experiencing these setbacks, you just feel like there's only darkness," explains Alana. "Therefore to be able to share those stories and hear others tell you more outrageous stories, it's so amazing."
A Secure Future
One can easily sense a evolution in the band. Now, Haim are more assured of their standing in the rock pantheon.
They're major draws, with chart-topping albums and an international following.
But Haim will always be their number one priority.
"We have been performing since I was little," concludes Alana. "It's like no alternative that we were supposed to do. And I'm really fortunate we've reached this point and we're still going strong."