Everyone Are Encouraged to Be the Extra Haim Member.
"When are you interviewing the Haim sisters?" a text pops up. "My request was to ask if I can be their extra sister."
There is only one problem: The sender also longs to be the Haims' fourth member. And we're far from alone. Several famous supporters have also begged for the honor.
One thing is obvious an irresistible appeal is going on. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana started their path playing gigs at neighborhood delis with their parents. Presently, they stand as multi-time Grammy Award nominees.
Similar to the best groups, they're a close gang. Their visuals repeatedly feature them walking in unison down the avenues of Los Angeles. In concert, they jam with such unfettered joy you find yourself thinking, "I want to be involved in that, too."
"How often on tour that fans told us and said, 'Watching you live, I picked up a guitar'," says Alana, the most junior of the trio. "That is the greatest honour. That is recognition in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can encourage young girls to make music."
"Therefore all is invited to be the next part of the family."
Award Milestone
The trio are connecting from home, where they're resting up after an extensive tour in support of their fourth album, I Quit.
They're presently processing the news it's been nominated for a top rock honor at the Grammys – with Haim the pioneering female band ever in contention for the trophy.
"I watch the announcements every year, so it kind of feels like The Truman Show when your name is called," says Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this correctly or am I imagining things'?"
The significance of the honor resonates with the band.
"We truly set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a significant step," continues Alana. "But we're just appreciative for the female artists that paved the way."
Personal Turmoil and Humour
The album came out of a time of emotional upheaval. All three sisters ended up single, and the music captures that strange transitional period where you're happy to be free, but not quite ready to move on.
The words follow departures and goodbyes. The sisters seek love, but not the kind of love they've got. You can hear them determining in the moment who they are becoming.
"That's a perfect way of putting it, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a personal statement. You have to actively work on ignoring the noise and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."
Refinement of Music
That recent toughness demanded a different sonic direction – more unpolished and immediate than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that began with the percussion.
"The drum sound is such a specific thing, and I am so passionate about it," she says.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our memoir," jokes Alana. "Our motto is, our albums won't commence until we find the right drum sound."
Stories and Collective Camaraderie
The trio's honesty inspired the album's marketing, where the sisters disclosed some of their dating tales.
One man left Este over a medical consideration. Alana told a story of flying to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.
"Experiencing these setbacks, you just feel like there's no hope," notes Alana. "Thus to be able to find humor in those stories and hear others tell you even crazier stories, it's so amazing."
A Secure Legacy
One can easily sense a evolution in the band. Today, Haim are more assured of their place in the music world.
They're festival headliners, with successful albums and an worldwide fan base.
But the band will forever be their primary priority.
"My sisters and I have been playing music since I was little," says Alana. "It feels as if nothing else that we were meant to do. And I'm really grateful we've made it and we're still kicking."
