The World Are Invited to Be the Extra Haim Sister.
"When are you interviewing the band?" a text reads. "I wanted to ask if I can be their extra sister."
However, there remains a key snag: I also longs to be Haim's fourth member. What's more, we are in plentiful company. A host of celebrated supporters have openly begged for the honor.
It's clear a special quality is at play. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana began their career performing shows at small eateries with their parents. Now they're repeated Grammy nominees.
In the tradition of the best bands, they're a tight-knit gang. Their music videos frequently feature them striding in harmony down the streets of Los Angeles. On stage, they jam with such unfettered happiness you can't help but think, "I want to be part of that, too."
"How often on tour that fans came up to us and said, 'After your show, I bought a drum kit'," says Alana, the youngest of the Haim siblings. "That is the biggest compliment. That's an award in itself. We have succeeded if we can motivate others to form a group."
"So all is invited to be the next Haim sister."
Historic Nod
The trio are connecting from a break, where they're taking a pause after an lengthy tour in for their new album, I Quit.
They're presently processing the news it's been in the running for best rock album at the Grammys β with Haim the very first female band ever in the running for the prize.
"I watch the nominations every year, so it kind of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is announced," says Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this correctly or am I dreaming'?"
The weight of the nomination isn't lost on the band.
"We really set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a huge step," adds Alana. "But we're just grateful for the female artists that paved the way."
Emotional Upheaval and Laughter
The album was born from a period of personal change. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music captures that unique in-between place where you're relieved to be free, but not quite ready to let go.
The themes track breakups and farewells. The sisters want love, but not the relationships they've had. You can hear them figuring out in real time who they are becoming.
"I love description, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a slogan. You have to actively work on blocking the outside opinions and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Evolution of Music
That newfound confidence required a different sonic direction β more organic and powerful than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that was founded on the percussion.
"The drum sound is such a detailed thing, and I am so passionate about it," she emphasizes.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the title of our book," jokes Alana. "I always say, our albums don't start until we find the right drum sound."
Anecdotes and Collective Humor
The trio's openness fueled the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters shared some of their dating tales.
One man broke up with Este over a medical concern. Alana told a story of flying to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture at midnight.
"When you're going through these setbacks, you just feel like there's no light," says Alana. "So to be able to share those stories and have them tell you wilder stories, it's incredible."
An Assured Future
You can clearly sense a change in the band. These days, Haim are more confident of their place in the music world.
They're major draws, with chart-topping albums and an worldwide following.
Yet the band will forever be their number one priority.
"Me and my siblings have been performing since I was a young child," says Alana. "There is no other path that we were destined for. And I'm really grateful we've made it and we're still going strong."