Everyone Are Welcome to Be the Extra Haim Bandmate.
"Do you know when you'll be interviewing Haim?" a message arrives. "I wanted to ask if I can be their extra sister."
However, there remains a key snag: The author likewise wants to be Haim's newest recruit. What's more, we are in plentiful company. Multiple celebrated supporters have openly begged for the honor.
It's clear something is going on. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana launched their musical journey doing sets at neighborhood delis with their family. Today, they are multiple Grammy nominees.
In the tradition of the greatest bands, they're a close gang. Their videos frequently show them walking in unison down the roads of Los Angeles. On stage, they jam with such boundless exuberance you inevitably think, "I want to be involved in that, too."
"How often on tour that fans approached us and said, 'Watching you live, I bought a guitar'," remarks Alana, the most junior of the Haim siblings. "That is the ultimate honor. That is recognition in itself. We have succeeded if we can inspire young girls to form a group."
"And thus all gets an invitation to be the honorary member of Haim."
Grammy Nod
The group have called into home, where they're recovering after an major tour in for their latest album, I Quit.
They're presently celebrating the news it's been shortlisted for best rock album at the Grammys – with Haim the very first all-female band ever in the running for the trophy.
"I follow the announcements every year, so it almost feels like a surreal movie when your name is read out," notes Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this right or am I dreaming'?"
The significance of the accolade resonates with the sisters.
"We truly set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a huge step," continues Alana. "But we're just grateful for the female artists that paved the way."
Heartbreak and Humour
The album came out of a period of personal change. All three sisters ended up single, and the music explores that strange transitional period where you're relieved to be free, but not entirely ready to start anew.
The lyrics follow departures and farewells. The sisters seek love, but not the kind of love they've experienced. You can hear them figuring out in real time who they aspire to be.
"That's a perfect summary, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is like a slogan. You have to consciously practice ignoring the criticism and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."
Refinement of Style
That recent confidence required a fresh approach – more unpolished and powerful than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that was founded on the percussion.
"The drum sound is such a detailed thing, and I care so much about it," she says.
"'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 ideal drum sound."
Stories and Shared Camaraderie
The band's openness shaped the album's marketing, where the sisters revealed some of their dating horror stories.
One man left Este over a health concern. Alana recalled a story of flying to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.
"During these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's no light," says Alana. "Therefore to be able to find humor in those stories and hear others tell you even crazier stories, it's incredible."
An Assured Path
One can easily sense a change in the band. Today, Haim are more confident of their standing in the rock pantheon.
They're major draws, with successful albums and an global fan base.
Yet the sister act will consistently be their top focus.
"We have been making music since I was four," shares Alana. "It feels as if no alternative that we were destined for. And I'm really fortunate we've reached this point and we're still kicking."