All Fans is Encouraged to Become the Additional Haim Member.
"Any idea when you're interviewing the Haim sisters?" a text pops up. "I wanted to ask if I can be their extra sister."
There's just a single issue: The sender also desires to be the Haims' fourth member. Furthermore, we are in plentiful company. Several high-profile admirers have publicly coveted the position.
The evidence suggests something is going on. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana launched their musical journey playing gigs at local delicatessens with their family. Presently, they stand as multi-time Grammy nominees.
Similar to the most iconic ensembles, they're a tight-knit gang. Their visuals repeatedly depict them walking in sync down the streets of Los Angeles. In concert, they play with such pure happiness you inevitably think, "I wish to be involved in that, too."
"The amount of times on tour that audience members told us and said, 'After your show, I bought a bass'," states Alana, the youngest of the sisters. "That is the greatest honor. It is a prize in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can motivate people to make music."
"Therefore anyone are welcome to be the fourth member of Haim."
Historic Nod
The group are connecting from their homes, where they're resting up after an extensive tour in for their fourth album, I Quit.
They're right now reeling from the news it's been in the running for best rock album at the Grammys – with Haim the first all-female band ever in the running for the prize.
"I watch the announcements every year, so it kind of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is read out," notes Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I imagining things'?"
The weight of the honor resonates with the sisters.
"We really set out to make a rock album this time, so it's a significant achievement," says Alana. "However we're just appreciative for the female artists that inspired us."
Emotional Upheaval and Candor
The project came out of a time of emotional upheaval. All three sisters were single, and the music captures that unique transitional period where you're relieved to be free, but not entirely ready to let go.
The words detail endings and farewells. The sisters want love, but not the relationships they've got. You can hear them figuring out in the moment who they aspire to be.
"That's a perfect way of putting it, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a personal statement. You have to make an effort in shutting out the noise and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Evolution of Sound
That recent confidence required a fresh approach – more organic and immediate than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that began with 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 subject of our book," laughs Alana. "Our motto is, our albums cannot begin until we find the ideal drum sound."
Anecdotes and Collective Humor
The trio's openness fueled the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters revealed some of their dating tales.
A former partner left Este over a health concern. Alana shared a story of travelling to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture at midnight.
"During these setbacks, you just feel like there's no light," explains Alana. "Thus to be able to laugh at those stories and hear others tell you even crazier stories, it's so amazing."
A Secure Legacy
One can easily sense a shift in the band. These days, Haim are more confident of their position in the rock pantheon.
They're major draws, with chart-topping albums and an international fan base.
Yet Haim will consistently be their number one focus.
"We have been making music since I was little," shares Alana. "It feels as if no other path that we were meant to do. And I'm really thankful we've reached this point and we're still kicking."