Everyone Are Invited to Be the Fourth Haim Sister.
"Any idea when you're chatting with the Haim sisters?" a text arrives. "I was hoping to ask if I can be their fourth member."
There is only a single issue: The author likewise wants to be the Haims' additional sibling. What's more, we are in plentiful company. Multiple celebrated supporters have also coveted the position.
It's clear an irresistible appeal is going on. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana began their career playing gigs at local delicatessens with their family. Presently, they stand as multiple Grammy Award contenders.
Like all the greatest bands, they're a close trio. Their music videos repeatedly depict them marching in sync down the roads of Los Angeles. On stage, they jam with such unfettered happiness you find yourself thinking, "I want to be involved in that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that fans told us and said, 'After your show, I got a bass'," says Alana, the youngest of the trio. "That's the biggest honour. That's an award in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can motivate others to make music."
"So anyone gets an invitation to be the next Haim sister."
Grammy Nod
The group are connecting from their homes, where they're resting up after an lengthy tour in support of their latest album, I Quit.
They're currently reeling from the news it's been nominated for a top rock honor at the Grammys – with Haim the very first all-female band ever in contention for the trophy.
"I watch the lists every year, so it sort of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is called," notes Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this right or am I imagining things'?"
The significance of the accolade is deeply felt by the sisters.
"We deliberately set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a significant milestone," adds Alana. "But we're just thankful for the female artists that inspired us."
Personal Turmoil and Candor
The album emerged from a time of transition. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music inhabits that odd transitional period where you're happy to be free, but not yet ready to let go.
The themes detail departures and farewells. The sisters desire love, but not the kind of love they've had. You can hear them figuring out in real time who they aspire to be.
"That's a perfect description, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is like a mantra. You have to actively work on shutting out the outside opinions and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."
Evolution of Sound
That newfound toughness called for a different sonic direction – more organic and direct than any of the music the band had done before.
For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that began with the drum sound.
"Drums are such a specific thing, and I focus so intensely about it," she states.
"'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 right drum sound."
Anecdotes and Shared Humor
The band's honesty fueled the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters revealed some of their romantic tales.
A former partner left Este over a medical consideration. Alana shared a story of flying to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture at midnight.
"Experiencing these breakups, you just feel like there's no light," notes Alana. "Thus to be able to find humor in those stories and hear others tell you more outrageous stories, it's therapeutic."
A Secure Legacy
It's not difficult sense a change in the band. These days, Haim are more confident of their place in the rock pantheon.
They're festival headliners, with successful albums and an international following.
Yet the band will always be their primary commitment.
"We have been making music since I was little," says Alana. "It's like no other path that we were meant to do. And I'm really grateful we've made it and we're still making music."