The World is Encouraged to Be the Additional Haim Member.
"Do you know when you'll be speaking to the band?" a message pops up. "I wanted to ask if I can be their extra sister."
However, there remains a key snag: The sender also longs to be Haim's additional sibling. What's more, we are in plentiful company. A host of famous fans have publicly begged for the role.
One thing is obvious something is happening. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana started their path performing shows at small eateries with their parents. Presently, they stand as repeated Grammy nominees.
In the tradition of the greatest bands, they're a tight-knit gang. Their videos frequently depict them striding in unison down the streets of Los Angeles. On stage, they play with such boundless joy you can't help but think, "I'd love to be a piece of that, too."
"The amount of times on tour that audience members told us and said, 'Seeing you perform, I got a bass'," says Alana, the most junior of the sisters. "That is the ultimate honour. That's an award in itself. We've done our job if we can encourage others to form a group."
"So all is invited to be the fourth member of Haim."
Award Milestone
The band are speaking from their homes, where they're taking a pause after an extensive tour in promoting their fourth album, I Quit.
They're presently processing the news it's been in the running for a top rock honor at the Grammys – with Haim the first all-female band ever in contention for the award.
"I follow the nominations every year, so it almost feels like The Truman Show when your name is called," explains Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this right or am I dreaming'?"
The importance of the accolade isn't lost on the band.
"We deliberately set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a huge achievement," says Alana. "However we're just thankful for the female artists that came before us."
Personal Turmoil and Candor
The record came out of a period of transition. All three sisters ended up single, and the music captures that odd transitional period where you're happy to be free, but not entirely ready to start anew.
The words track endings and partings. The sisters want love, but not the kind of love they've got. You can hear them determining in the moment who they want to be.
"That's a perfect way of putting it, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a personal statement. You have to make an effort in shutting out the criticism and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."
Refinement of Style
That recent toughness required a new sound – more raw and powerful than any of the music the band had done before.
For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that was founded on the drums.
"The drum sound is such a detailed thing, and I am so passionate about it," she emphasizes.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the title of our book," laughs Alana. "I always say, our albums won't commence until we find the ideal drum sound."
Anecdotes and Collective Laughter
The trio's candor inspired the album's marketing, where the sisters shared some of their romantic misadventures.
Someone left Este over a medical concern. Alana shared a story of flying to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.
"During these setbacks, 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."
A Secure Path
One can easily sense a evolution in the band. Today, Haim are more assured of their position in the music world.
They're top-billed acts, with successful albums and an worldwide fan base.
Yet the band will always be their top priority.
"Me and my siblings have been making music since I was little," concludes Alana. "It's like no other path that we were supposed to do. And I'm really fortunate we've made it and we're still making music."