The World Are Invited to Join as the Additional Haim Member.
"When are you interviewing Haim?" a text pops up. "I was hoping to ask if I can join as their newest bandmate."
There's just one problem: The sender also desires to be Haim's additional sibling. Furthermore, we are far from alone. Several high-profile admirers have publicly coveted the position.
One thing is obvious a special quality is happening. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana began their path playing gigs at small eateries with their parents. Now they're multiple Grammy Award contenders.
Similar to the best groups, they're a close unit. Their music videos often show them walking in harmony down the streets of Los Angeles. During performances, they play with such boundless exuberance you find yourself thinking, "I wish to be part of that, too."
"The amount of times on tour that young girls came up to us and said, 'After your show, I got a bass'," remarks Alana, the most junior of the Haim siblings. "That is the ultimate honor. It is a prize in itself. We've done our job if we can encourage people to form a group."
"So all gets an invitation to be the next part of the family."
Historic Nod
The band are speaking from their homes, where they're taking a pause after an major tour in promoting their latest album, I Quit.
They're right now celebrating the news it's been in the running for a top rock honor at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the pioneering all-female band ever in the running for the trophy.
"I watch the nominations every year, so it kind of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is called," says Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this right or am I hallucinating'?"
The significance of the nomination isn't lost on the band.
"We deliberately set out to make a rock album this time, so it's a significant step," says Alana. "However we're just thankful for the pioneers that paved the way."
Personal Turmoil and Laughter
The project was born from a time of emotional upheaval. All three sisters were single, and the music inhabits that unique liminal space where you're glad to be free, but not yet ready to move on.
The lyrics follow endings and farewells. The sisters seek love, but not the kind of love they've had. You can hear them determining in real life who they are becoming.
"I adore summary, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a mantra. You have to make an effort in ignoring the criticism and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."
Evolution of Style
That recent resilience called for a fresh approach – more unpolished and direct than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that started with the drum sound.
"Drums are such a detailed thing, and I focus so intensely about it," she states.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the title of our biography," quips Alana. "Our motto is, our albums cannot begin until we find the right drum sound."
Anecdotes and Collective Laughter
The trio's honesty shaped the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters revealed some of their dating misadventures.
Someone ended things with Este over a medical concern. Alana recalled a story of travelling to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture at midnight.
"During these breakups, you just feel like there's only darkness," says Alana. "So to be able to laugh at those stories and hear others tell you wilder stories, it's so amazing."
A Secure Future
You can clearly sense a evolution in the band. Now, Haim are more assured of their position in the industry.
They're top-billed acts, with successful albums and an international audience.
Yet Haim will consistently be their primary commitment.
"Me and my siblings have been playing music since I was little," shares Alana. "It feels as if no alternative that we were meant to do. And I'm really grateful we've gotten here and we're still making music."
