All Fans is Encouraged to Become the Extra Haim Sisters Bandmate.
"Do you know when you'll be interviewing the Haim sisters?" a text arrives. "I was hoping to ask if I can be their newest bandmate."
However, there remains a key snag: I also longs to be the Haims' additional sibling. And we're not alone. Multiple famous supporters have openly petitioned for the role.
It's clear something is happening. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana started their musical journey performing shows at small eateries with their family. Now they're multi-time Grammy Award hopefuls.
Similar to the best bands, they're a inseparable gang. Their music videos often depict them marching in harmony down the streets of Los Angeles. On stage, they perform with such boundless exuberance you can't help but think, "I wish to be a piece of that, too."
"How often on tour that young girls came up to us and said, 'After your show, I got a guitar'," says Alana, the youngest of the sisters. "That is the ultimate honour. It is a prize in itself. We have succeeded if we can encourage young girls to make music."
"So everyone is invited to be the next member of Haim."
Grammy Milestone
The band are connecting from their homes, where they're resting up after an major tour in support of their new album, I Quit.
They're currently reeling from the news it's been in the running for Best Rock Album at the Grammys – with Haim the very first all-woman band ever in contention for the trophy.
"I follow the announcements every year, so it sort of feels like The Truman Show when your name is called," says Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this right or am I dreaming'?"
The weight of the accolade isn't lost on the trio.
"We really set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a huge step," says Alana. "However we're just appreciative for the women that came before us."
Personal Turmoil and Laughter
The album came out of a period of personal change. All three sisters were single, and the music inhabits that odd transitional period where you're happy to be free, but not quite ready to move on.
The lyrics follow departures and partings. The sisters desire love, but not the specific love they've experienced. You can hear them working out in real life who they are becoming.
"I love summary, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a mantra. You have to make an effort in ignoring the noise and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."
Refinement of Style
That developed toughness called for a different sonic direction – more unpolished and powerful than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that began with the percussion.
"Percussion is such a nuanced thing, and I focus so intensely about it," she states.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our book," quips Alana. "Our motto is, our albums cannot begin until we find the right drum sound."
Experiences and Shared Humor
The trio's honesty shaped the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters revealed some of their dating horror stories.
Someone ended things with 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.
"Experiencing these breakups, you just feel like there's only darkness," notes Alana. "Therefore to be able to find humor in those stories and hear others tell you more outrageous stories, it's incredible."
An Assured Legacy
You can clearly sense a change in the band. Today, Haim are more assured of their standing in the rock pantheon.
They're top-billed acts, with successful albums and an global audience.
But the sister act will always be their number one focus.
"My sisters and I have been playing music since I was four," shares Alana. "It feels as if no alternative that we were supposed to do. And I'm really thankful we've reached this point and we're still going strong."