Everyone Are Encouraged to Join as the Additional Haim Sisters Sister.
"Do you know when you'll be interviewing the band?" a message arrives. "I wanted to ask if I can join as their fourth member."
There's just one problem: The author likewise desires to be the Haims' newest recruit. And we're far from alone. Several celebrated admirers have publicly coveted the role.
One thing is obvious something is happening. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana started their musical journey playing gigs at local delicatessens with their parents. Presently, they stand as repeated Grammy hopefuls.
In the tradition of the most iconic ensembles, they're a tight-knit trio. Their music videos repeatedly depict them marching in harmony down the streets of Los Angeles. During performances, they play with such unfettered happiness you inevitably think, "I want to be part of that, too."
"How often on tour that young girls told us and said, 'Seeing you perform, I picked up a bass'," remarks Alana, the youngest of the sisters. "It is the greatest honor. That's an award in itself. We've done our job if we can inspire young girls to make music."
"Therefore everyone are welcome to be the honorary part of the family."
Grammy Milestone
The trio are speaking from home, where they're resting up after an major tour in support of their fourth album, I Quit.
They're presently reeling from the news it's been nominated for best rock album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the very first all-female band ever in the running for the trophy.
"I watch the nominations every year, so it kind of feels like a surreal movie when your name is read out," notes Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this correctly or am I dreaming'?"
The weight of the accolade resonates with the sisters.
"We truly set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a huge step," continues Alana. "However we're just grateful for the women that paved the way."
Emotional Upheaval and Laughter
The record came out of a period of transition. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music inhabits that strange transitional period where you're happy to be free, but not entirely ready to let go.
The themes follow endings and farewells. The sisters want love, but not the kind of love they've experienced. You can hear them working out in real life who they are becoming.
"I adore description, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is like a slogan. You have to make an effort in ignoring the criticism and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Refinement of Style
That newfound confidence required a new sound – more organic and direct than any of the music the band had done before.
For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that was founded on the drum sound.
"Percussion is such a nuanced thing, and I focus so intensely about it," she states.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the title of our memoir," jokes Alana. "I always say, our albums won't commence until we find the perfect drum sound."
Experiences and Shared Humor
The band's openness inspired the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters revealed some of their dating tales.
One man left Este over a medical consideration. Alana told a story of flying to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.
"When you're going through these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's no light," says Alana. "So to be able to laugh at those stories and have them tell you even crazier stories, it's therapeutic."
A Secure Path
It's not difficult sense a change in the band. These days, Haim are more certain of their position in the industry.
They're festival headliners, with hit albums and an international audience.
Yet the sister act will always be their primary focus.
"We have been playing music since I was four," shares Alana. "There is no other path that we were supposed to do. And I'm really grateful we've made it and we're still making music."