The World is Encouraged to Become the Fourth Haim Sister.
"Any idea when you're interviewing the band?" a text pops up. "I wanted to ask if I can join as their newest bandmate."
There is only one problem: The author likewise desires to be Haim's additional sibling. What's more, we are in plentiful company. A host of celebrated fans have publicly petitioned for the honor.
One thing is obvious a special quality is at play. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana began their musical journey performing shows at small eateries with their family. Today, they are multi-time Grammy nominees.
In the tradition of the most iconic bands, they're a inseparable unit. Their videos repeatedly feature them striding in sync down the streets of Los Angeles. On stage, they jam with such unfettered joy you inevitably think, "I want to be involved in that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that fans came up to us and said, 'Seeing you perform, I got a bass'," 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 encourage young girls to form a group."
"So all are welcome to be the honorary Haim sister."
Historic Milestone
The band are connecting from their homes, where they're taking a pause after an major tour in for 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 – with Haim the pioneering all-female band ever in the running for the award.
"I tune into the lists every year, so it kind of feels like a surreal movie when your name is called," explains Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this correctly or am I dreaming'?"
The weight of the accolade isn't lost on the band.
"We really set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a huge achievement," says Alana. "Yet we're just thankful for the female artists that came before us."
Emotional Upheaval and Laughter
The album came out of a phase of emotional upheaval. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music inhabits that strange in-between place where you're relieved to be free, but not entirely ready to move on.
The words follow departures and farewells. The sisters want 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 way of putting it, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a slogan. You have to actively work on shutting out the noise and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Development of Sound
That newfound resilience called for a fresh approach – more organic and direct than any of the music the band had done before.
For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that started with the drums.
"Drums are such a specific thing, and I focus so intensely about it," she emphasizes.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our book," laughs Alana. "I always say, our albums won't commence until we find the ideal drum sound."
Experiences and Collective Laughter
The trio's openness shaped the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters revealed some of their personal horror stories.
One man ended things with Este over a medical concern. Alana shared a story of flying to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a friendly slap at midnight.
"Experiencing these setbacks, you just feel like there's only darkness," explains Alana. "Therefore to be able to laugh at those stories and have them tell you even crazier stories, it's so amazing."
An Assured Legacy
You can clearly sense a evolution in the band. Now, Haim are more confident of their place in the rock pantheon.
They're festival headliners, with successful albums and an global fan base.
Yet Haim will forever be their primary focus.
"My sisters and I have been playing music since I was little," shares Alana. "It's like no alternative that we were destined for. And I'm really thankful we've made it and we're still kicking."