All Fans is Encouraged to Join as the Additional Haim Sisters Sister.
"Any idea when you're speaking to Haim?" a text reads. "My request was to ask if I can become their newest bandmate."
There is only one problem: The sender also wants to be Haim's newest recruit. Furthermore, we are in plentiful company. A host of celebrated fans have openly coveted the role.
It's clear an irresistible appeal is happening. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana started their career doing sets at local delicatessens with their parents. Today, they are repeated Grammy Award contenders.
In the tradition of the best ensembles, they're a close unit. Their visuals repeatedly feature them walking in harmony down the avenues of Los Angeles. During performances, they perform with such pure exuberance you inevitably think, "I wish to be involved in that, too."
"How often on tour that young girls came up to us and said, 'After your show, I picked up a guitar'," states Alana, the youngest of the Haim siblings. "That is the ultimate compliment. That is recognition in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can motivate others to start a band."
"Therefore all are welcome to be the fourth part of the family."
Award Recognition
The group have called into a break, where they're resting up after an major tour in support of their fourth album, I Quit.
They're presently celebrating the news it's been nominated for Best Rock Album at the Grammys – with Haim the first all-woman band ever in contention for the trophy.
"I tune into the nominations every year, so it almost feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is read out," notes Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this right or am I dreaming'?"
The significance of the honor isn't lost on the band.
"We truly set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a major milestone," continues Alana. "Yet we're just appreciative for the pioneers that paved the way."
Emotional Upheaval and Humour
The album emerged from a phase of personal change. All three sisters ended up single, and the music captures that unique transitional period where you're happy to be free, but not quite ready to start anew.
The themes track departures and goodbyes. The sisters desire love, but not the specific love they've experienced. You can hear them determining in real life who they want to be.
"I love description, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a mantra. You have to actively work on shutting out the outside opinions and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Development of Style
That newfound toughness called for a different sonic direction – more raw 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 focus so intensely about it," she says.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the title of our memoir," jokes Alana. "I've said it, our albums cannot begin until we find the ideal drum sound."
Anecdotes and Collective Humor
The band's openness fueled the album's rollout, where the sisters disclosed some of their romantic misadventures.
One man ended things with Este over a health consideration. Alana shared a story of travelling to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.
"Experiencing these breakups, you just feel like there's no hope," notes Alana. "Therefore to be able to share those stories and hear others tell you more outrageous stories, it's so amazing."
A Confident Future
It's not difficult sense a evolution in the band. These days, Haim are more confident of their position in the industry.
They're major draws, with hit albums and an international audience.
However the sister act will consistently be their number one commitment.
"Me and my siblings have been making music since I was a young child," shares Alana. "It feels as if no alternative that we were destined for. And I'm really grateful we've reached this point and we're still going strong."