All Fans Are Encouraged to Become the Fourth Haim Sisters Sister.
"Do you know when you'll be interviewing the band?" a message pops up. "I was hoping to ask if I can become their newest bandmate."
There is only one problem: The author likewise wants to be Haim's additional sibling. What's more, we are in plentiful company. Several high-profile admirers have openly petitioned for the role.
One thing is obvious a special quality is going on. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana launched their career doing sets at local delicatessens with their family. Now they're multi-time Grammy Award hopefuls.
Like all the greatest ensembles, they're a inseparable trio. Their visuals repeatedly depict them walking in harmony down the roads of Los Angeles. On stage, they play with such boundless joy you can't help but think, "I'd love to be a piece of that, too."
"How often on tour that young girls told us and said, 'Seeing you perform, I got a bass'," states Alana, the youngest of the Haim siblings. "That's the ultimate compliment. That's an award in itself. We've done our job if we can motivate people to start a band."
"So all gets an invitation to be the next Haim sister."
Grammy Recognition
The band are speaking from a break, where they're recovering after an lengthy tour in support of their new album, I Quit.
They're right now reeling from the news it's been in the running for best rock album at the Grammys β with Haim the very first all-female band ever in consideration for the award.
"I tune into the lists every year, so it sort of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is called," says Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this right or am I imagining things'?"
The importance of the nomination is deeply felt by the band.
"We truly set out to make a rock album this time, so it's a huge step," continues Alana. "However we're just thankful for the pioneers that came before us."
Emotional Upheaval and Candor
The project emerged from a period of personal change. All three sisters were single, and the music inhabits that strange transitional period where you're happy to be free, but not entirely ready to move on.
The lyrics detail endings and goodbyes. The sisters seek love, but not the specific love they've experienced. You can hear them determining in real time who they want to be.
"That's a perfect description, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is like a slogan. You have to actively work on ignoring the criticism and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."
Refinement of Music
That developed resilience called for a different sonic direction β more organic and immediate than any of the music 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 title of our book," laughs Alana. "I've said it, our albums won't commence until we find the perfect drum sound."
Experiences and Collective Humor
The trio's honesty fueled the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters disclosed some of their personal tales.
A former partner broke up with Este over a medical consideration. Alana told a story of flying to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.
"Experiencing these setbacks, you just feel like there's only darkness," says Alana. "Thus to be able to laugh at those stories and have them tell you more outrageous stories, it's incredible."
A Secure Legacy
You can clearly sense a shift in the band. These days, Haim are more assured of their position in the industry.
They're major draws, with hit albums and an worldwide fan base.
But the sister act will consistently be their top commitment.
"My sisters and I have been playing music since I was a young child," concludes Alana. "There is no other path that we were supposed to do. And I'm really fortunate we've reached this point and we're still going strong."