The World is Invited to Become the Extra Haim Sisters Member.
"Do you know when you'll be chatting with the band?" an inquiry arrives. "I wanted to ask if I can become their extra sister."
There is only one problem: I also wants to be Haim's fourth member. And we're not alone. Several famous admirers have openly petitioned for the position.
One thing is obvious an irresistible appeal is going on. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana launched their career playing gigs at neighborhood delis with their parents. Presently, they stand as multiple Grammy Award hopefuls.
Like all the best bands, they're a tight-knit gang. Their videos frequently depict them walking in harmony down the avenues of Los Angeles. During performances, they jam with such pure exuberance you can't help but think, "I wish to be a piece of that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that young girls approached us and said, 'Seeing you perform, I picked up a guitar'," says Alana, the youngest of the Haim siblings. "That's the ultimate honor. That's an award in itself. We have succeeded if we can motivate others to form a group."
"Therefore anyone gets an invitation to be the fourth part of the family."
Award Milestone
The band have called into their homes, where they're taking a pause after an lengthy tour in for their new album, I Quit.
They're presently reeling from the news it's been in the running for best rock album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the very first all-woman band ever in contention for the trophy.
"I follow the lists every year, so it kind of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is read out," says Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this correctly or am I imagining things'?"
The significance of the accolade isn't lost on the band.
"We truly set out to make a rock album this time, so it's a significant achievement," says Alana. "But we're just grateful for the women that inspired us."
Emotional Upheaval and Laughter
The record was born from a period of personal change. All three sisters were single, and the music captures that strange in-between place where you're happy to be free, but not entirely ready to move on.
The words track departures and farewells. The sisters seek love, but not the specific love they've got. You can hear them figuring out in the moment who they aspire to be.
"I adore description, yes," says 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'."
Evolution of Style
That recent toughness 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 began with the drums.
"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 book," jokes Alana. "I always say, our albums don't start until we find the right drum sound."
Stories and Shared Camaraderie
The trio's candor fueled the album's rollout, where the sisters shared some of their dating tales.
A former partner broke up with Este over a medical consideration. Alana told a story of flying to celebrate 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 hope," notes Alana. "Therefore to be able to laugh at those stories and hear others tell you wilder stories, it's therapeutic."
A Confident Path
You can clearly sense a change in the band. Now, Haim are more assured of their place in the music world.
They're top-billed acts, with chart-topping albums and an international following.
Yet Haim will forever be their primary priority.
"Me and my siblings have been playing music since I was a young child," shares Alana. "It's like no alternative that we were meant to do. And I'm really thankful we've gotten here and we're still making music."