The World Are Invited to Join as the Additional Haim Bandmate.
"Do you know when you'll be speaking to Haim?" a text arrives. "I wanted to ask if I can join as their extra sister."
There's just a key snag: The author likewise desires to be Haim's additional sibling. What's more, we are in plentiful company. Multiple celebrated admirers have also petitioned for the honor.
It's clear an irresistible appeal is happening. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana began their musical journey playing gigs at local delicatessens with their family. Now they're repeated Grammy hopefuls.
In the tradition of the most iconic groups, they're a close unit. Their videos repeatedly show them marching in unison down the roads of Los Angeles. In concert, they jam with such boundless exuberance you can't help but think, "I wish to be involved in that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that audience members came up to us and said, 'Seeing you perform, I picked up a guitar'," says Alana, the most junior of the sisters. "That's the biggest compliment. That is recognition in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can motivate others to form a group."
"Therefore everyone are welcome to be the honorary part of the family."
Grammy Recognition
The trio are speaking from a break, where they're recovering after an major tour in support of their new album, I Quit.
They're right now celebrating the news it's been in the running for best rock album at the Grammys – with Haim the first all-female band ever in contention for the award.
"I follow the nominations every year, so it kind of feels like a surreal movie when your name is announced," explains Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this right or am I dreaming'?"
The importance of the accolade isn't lost on the trio.
"We deliberately set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a huge milestone," says Alana. "But we're just grateful for the female artists that paved the way."
Heartbreak and Candor
The album was born from a phase of personal change. All three sisters were single, and the music explores that odd transitional period where you're glad to be free, but not yet ready to start anew.
The lyrics follow breakups and partings. The sisters seek love, but not the relationships they've experienced. You can hear them working out in real time who they are becoming.
"That's a perfect summary, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a slogan. You have to consciously practice ignoring the criticism and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Development of Music
That newfound resilience called for a new sound – more unpolished and immediate than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who helped produce the album, that began with the drum sound.
"The drum sound is such a nuanced thing, and I focus so intensely about it," she emphasizes.
"'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."
Experiences and Collective Humor
The trio's candor shaped the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters revealed some of their personal tales.
Someone ended things with Este over a medical concern. Alana shared a story of travelling to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture at midnight.
"Experiencing these setbacks, you just feel like there's no light," says Alana. "Therefore to be able to laugh at those stories and hear others tell you more outrageous stories, it's so amazing."
A Confident Legacy
One can easily sense a shift in the band. Now, Haim are more assured of their position in the industry.
They're festival headliners, with successful albums and an global following.
However the band will consistently be their primary commitment.
"We have been performing since I was little," says Alana. "There is no alternative that we were supposed to do. And I'm really grateful we've reached this point and we're still making music."