Everyone is Encouraged to Become the Fourth Haim Sisters Sister.
"When are you interviewing Haim?" a message reads. "I wanted to ask if I can become their fourth member."
There's just a single issue: The sender also desires to be the Haims' fourth member. Furthermore, we are in plentiful company. A host of celebrated admirers have also begged for the position.
One thing is obvious a special quality is at play. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana began their career playing gigs at neighborhood delis with their parents. Presently, they stand as repeated Grammy Award contenders.
Like all the most iconic groups, they're a close unit. Their visuals frequently feature them marching in sync down the avenues of Los Angeles. In concert, they perform with such unfettered happiness you can't help but think, "I'd love to be a piece of that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that young girls told us and said, 'Seeing you perform, I picked up a drum kit'," states Alana, the youngest of the sisters. "That is the greatest honour. That is recognition in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can inspire people to make music."
"So everyone are welcome to be the honorary member of Haim."
Award Milestone
The trio are connecting from their homes, where they're recovering after an lengthy tour in for their fourth 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 first all-woman band ever in consideration for the trophy.
"I watch the announcements 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 we just hear this correctly or am I dreaming'?"
The importance of the honor isn't lost on the trio.
"We truly set out to make a rock album this time, so it's a major achievement," adds Alana. "But we're just grateful for the pioneers that paved the way."
Emotional Upheaval and Candor
The album emerged from a period of personal change. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music captures that unique in-between place where you're relieved to be free, but not entirely ready to start anew.
The themes follow endings and partings. The sisters seek love, but not the relationships they've experienced. You can hear them determining in real life who they are becoming.
"I love description, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a personal statement. You have to actively work on shutting out the outside opinions and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."
Evolution of Music
That recent resilience demanded a new sound – more organic and powerful than any of the music the band had done before.
For Danielle, who helped produce the album, that began with the drums.
"Drums are such a nuanced thing, and I am so passionate about it," she states.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our book," quips Alana. "I always say, our albums won't commence until we find the right drum sound."
Anecdotes and Shared Laughter
The trio's openness inspired the album's marketing, where the sisters revealed some of their dating misadventures.
One man broke up with Este over a health concern. Alana told a story of travelling to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.
"When you're going through these setbacks, you just feel like there's no light," says Alana. "Therefore to be able to share those stories and hear others tell you wilder stories, it's incredible."
A Secure Future
One can easily sense a shift in the band. Today, Haim are more confident of their place in the rock pantheon.
They're major draws, with successful albums and an global audience.
But the sister act will consistently be their number one focus.
"My sisters and I have been playing music since I was four," says Alana. "It's like no other path that we were meant to do. And I'm really grateful we've made it and we're still kicking."