All Fans is Invited to Become the Additional Haim Sisters Bandmate.
"Do you know when you'll be interviewing the Haim sisters?" a message arrives. "I wanted to ask if I can become their fourth member."
There's just one problem: The sender also wants to be Haim's newest recruit. And we're not alone. A host of high-profile supporters have publicly begged for the honor.
The evidence suggests an irresistible appeal is happening. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana started their musical journey doing sets at neighborhood delis with their family. Today, they are repeated Grammy Award nominees.
Similar to the most iconic bands, they're a tight-knit trio. Their videos repeatedly show them marching in sync down the roads of Los Angeles. In concert, they jam with such unfettered exuberance you find yourself thinking, "I wish to be involved in that, too."
"The amount of times on tour that young girls came up to us and said, 'After your show, I picked up a bass'," states Alana, the youngest of the Haim siblings. "It is the greatest honor. That is recognition in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can inspire others to make music."
"So everyone is invited to be the fourth part of the family."
Award Recognition
The group are speaking from home, where they're recovering after an major tour in support of their new album, I Quit.
They're presently celebrating the news it's been nominated for best rock album at the Grammys – with Haim the pioneering female band ever in the running for the trophy.
"I tune into the nominations every year, so it almost feels like a surreal movie when your name is called," says Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I hallucinating'?"
The weight of the honor resonates with the band.
"We truly set out to make a rock album this time, so it's a significant achievement," continues Alana. "Yet we're just thankful for the women that inspired us."
Heartbreak and Humour
The record was born from a time of emotional upheaval. All three sisters ended up single, and the music captures that unique liminal space where you're relieved to be free, but not quite ready to let go.
The words detail departures and farewells. The sisters seek love, but not the relationships they've got. You can hear them determining in real life who they aspire to be.
"I love summary, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a slogan. You have to make an effort in shutting out the noise and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."
Development of Sound
That newfound toughness demanded a different sonic direction – more unpolished and direct than any of the music the band had done before.
For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that was founded on the drum sound.
"The drum sound is such a detailed thing, and I am so passionate about it," she states.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our biography," quips Alana. "I've said it, our albums don't start until we find the perfect drum sound."
Stories and Collective Laughter
The band's honesty inspired the album's rollout, where the sisters shared some of their romantic misadventures.
A former partner ended things with Este over a health consideration. Alana recalled a story of travelling to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture at midnight.
"Experiencing these breakups, you just feel like there's no hope," explains Alana. "So to be able to laugh at those stories and hear others tell you even crazier stories, it's therapeutic."
A Secure Path
One can easily sense a evolution in the band. These days, Haim are more confident of their place in the industry.
They're festival headliners, with chart-topping albums and an worldwide audience.
However the band will forever be their top commitment.
"My sisters and I have been playing music since I was four," shares Alana. "There is no alternative that we were supposed to do. And I'm really grateful we've gotten here and we're still going strong."