Everyone Are Welcome to Become the Additional Haim Sisters Bandmate.
"When are you interviewing Haim?" a message arrives. "I was hoping to ask if I can become their extra sister."
However, there remains one problem: The author likewise wants to be Haim's fourth member. Furthermore, we are far from alone. A host of high-profile fans have openly petitioned for the position.
The evidence suggests something is at play. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana started their career performing shows at local delicatessens with their family. Presently, they stand as repeated Grammy contenders.
In the tradition of the greatest groups, they're a tight-knit gang. Their music videos frequently feature them walking in harmony down the streets of Los Angeles. During performances, they perform with such unfettered happiness you inevitably think, "I wish to be part of that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that audience members approached us and said, 'Watching you live, I got a bass'," states Alana, the most junior of the Haim siblings. "That's the biggest honor. It is a prize in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can inspire young girls to form a group."
"Therefore everyone are welcome to be the honorary member of Haim."
Historic Nod
The trio have called into home, where they're resting up after an extensive tour in for their new album, I Quit.
They're presently celebrating the news it's been in the running for a top rock honor at the Grammys – with Haim the very first all-woman band ever in consideration for the trophy.
"I follow the nominations every year, so it almost feels like a surreal movie when your name is announced," says Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I hallucinating'?"
The weight of the nomination resonates with the trio.
"We really set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a huge achievement," continues Alana. "Yet we're just appreciative for the women that inspired us."
Personal Turmoil and Candor
The record emerged from a period of personal change. All three sisters were single, and the music inhabits that unique liminal space where you're relieved to be free, but not yet ready to start anew.
The words follow breakups and goodbyes. The sisters want love, but not the kind of love they've experienced. You can hear them determining in real life who they want to be.
"I adore description, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a mantra. You have to consciously practice blocking the criticism and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."
Development of Sound
That recent resilience demanded a fresh approach – more organic and direct than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who helped produce the album, that started with the percussion.
"Percussion is such a detailed thing, and I am so passionate about it," she states.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our book," laughs Alana. "I always say, our albums don't start until we find the ideal drum sound."
Experiences and Shared Camaraderie
The trio's candor inspired the album's rollout, where the sisters shared some of their romantic horror stories.
One man left Este over a health consideration. Alana shared a story of travelling to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.
"Experiencing these breakups, you just feel like there's only darkness," notes Alana. "Thus to be able to find humor in those stories and have them tell you wilder stories, it's so amazing."
An Assured Future
It's not difficult sense a evolution in the band. Today, Haim are more confident of their position in the music world.
They're festival headliners, with chart-topping albums and an worldwide audience.
Yet the band will consistently be their primary commitment.
"My sisters and I have been making music since I was four," concludes Alana. "There is nothing else that we were meant to do. And I'm really thankful we've reached this point and we're still making music."