The World is Encouraged to Become the Additional Haim Sisters Sister.
"Any idea when you're chatting with Haim?" an inquiry arrives. "I wanted to ask if I can become their fourth member."
However, there remains a key snag: The author likewise longs to be Haim's fourth member. Furthermore, we are in plentiful company. Multiple famous admirers have also coveted the role.
One thing is obvious a special quality is at play. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana launched their musical journey performing shows at local delicatessens with their parents. Now they're multiple Grammy Award hopefuls.
Like all the best groups, they're a close trio. Their music videos often depict them walking in unison down the streets of Los Angeles. On stage, they perform with such boundless happiness you inevitably think, "I want to be a piece of that, too."
"The amount of times on tour that fans approached us and said, 'Watching you live, I got a guitar'," says Alana, the youngest of the sisters. "That's the biggest honor. It is a prize in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can motivate young girls to start a band."
"And thus all is invited to be the honorary part of the family."
Award Recognition
The trio are speaking from a break, where they're resting up after an lengthy tour in for their latest album, I Quit.
They're presently processing the news it's been nominated for Best Rock Album at the Grammys – with Haim the pioneering all-female band ever in contention for the trophy.
"I tune into the nominations every year, so it sort 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 we just hear this right or am I dreaming'?"
The importance of the accolade isn't lost on the trio.
"We truly set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a major milestone," adds Alana. "But we're just appreciative for the women that paved the way."
Personal Turmoil and Laughter
The project was born from a time of transition. All three sisters were single, and the music inhabits that odd liminal space where you're relieved to be free, but not yet ready to start anew.
The lyrics follow endings and partings. The sisters desire love, but not the kind of love they've got. You can hear them working out in real time who they want to be.
"That's a perfect summary, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a personal statement. You have to make an effort in shutting out the outside opinions and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."
Development of Style
That developed resilience demanded a fresh approach – more unpolished and powerful than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that was founded on the drum sound.
"Percussion is such a specific thing, and I am so passionate about it," she states.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the title of our book," jokes Alana. "Our motto is, our albums don't start until we find the right drum sound."
Experiences and Collective Laughter
The trio's candor fueled the album's rollout, where the sisters shared some of their personal misadventures.
One man ended things with Este over a medical consideration. Alana recalled a story of travelling to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a friendly slap at midnight.
"During these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's no light," explains Alana. "Therefore to be able to find humor in those stories and have them tell you wilder stories, it's so amazing."
An Assured Path
You can clearly sense a evolution in the band. Today, Haim are more certain of their standing in the industry.
They're festival headliners, with hit albums and an worldwide fan base.
Yet the sister act will always be their top commitment.
"Me and my siblings have been performing since I was a young child," says Alana. "It feels as if nothing else that we were supposed to do. And I'm really grateful we've made it and we're still kicking."
