The World Are Invited to Be the Extra Haim Bandmate.
"Any idea when you're interviewing the Haim sisters?" a message pops up. "I was hoping to ask if I can become their fourth member."
There is only one problem: I also longs to be the Haims' additional sibling. Furthermore, we are far from alone. A host of famous supporters have openly begged for the role.
The evidence suggests a special quality is going on. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana started their path performing shows at neighborhood delis with their family. Now they're multi-time Grammy Award nominees.
Similar to the most iconic groups, they're a close trio. Their visuals often show them marching in harmony down the roads of Los Angeles. During performances, they jam with such unfettered exuberance you find yourself thinking, "I want to be part of that, too."
"The amount of times on tour that fans approached us and said, 'Seeing you perform, I got a drum kit'," remarks Alana, the most junior of the Haim siblings. "That is the ultimate honor. That's an award in itself. We've done our job if we can motivate people to make music."
"So all gets an invitation to be the honorary part of the family."
Award Nod
The group are speaking from their homes, where they're resting up after an lengthy tour in support of their new album, I Quit.
They're right now reeling from the news it's been in the running for a top rock honor at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the very first female band ever in consideration for the trophy.
"I follow the announcements every year, so it sort of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is called," explains Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I imagining things'?"
The importance of the nomination isn't lost on the band.
"We deliberately set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a major step," says Alana. "But we're just thankful for the female artists that inspired us."
Emotional Upheaval and Humour
The album was born from a period of transition. All three sisters were single, and the music captures that unique liminal space where you're glad to be free, but not quite ready to let go.
The themes detail departures and farewells. The sisters seek love, but not the relationships they've experienced. You can hear them determining in real life who they want to be.
"That's a perfect description, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a personal statement. You have to actively work on blocking the criticism and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Development of Music
That recent toughness demanded a fresh approach – more organic and immediate than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who helped produce the album, that was founded on the percussion.
"Drums are such a detailed thing, and I care so much about it," she emphasizes.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our memoir," laughs Alana. "I always say, our albums cannot begin until we find the perfect drum sound."
Stories and Shared Camaraderie
The band's candor fueled the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters disclosed some of their dating horror stories.
Someone ended things with Este over a medical concern. Alana told a story of travelling to celebrate 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. "So to be able to laugh at those stories and hear others tell you even crazier stories, it's so amazing."
A Confident Path
It's not difficult sense a evolution in the band. Today, Haim are more certain of their place in the rock pantheon.
They're major draws, with chart-topping albums and an worldwide audience.
But the sister act will consistently be their primary focus.
"Me and my siblings have been making music since I was little," says Alana. "It's like no alternative that we were meant to do. And I'm really grateful we've gotten here and we're still kicking."