All Fans Are Welcome to Join as the Extra Haim Bandmate.
"Do you know when you'll be interviewing the Haim sisters?" a message pops up. "I wanted to ask if I can become their extra sister."
However, there remains one problem: The sender also longs to be Haim's newest recruit. What's more, we are not alone. Multiple celebrated admirers have openly coveted the role.
The evidence suggests a special quality is at play. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana launched their musical journey performing shows at local delicatessens with their family. Presently, they stand as repeated Grammy Award nominees.
Similar to the most iconic groups, they're a tight-knit trio. Their visuals frequently feature them walking in sync down the roads of Los Angeles. On stage, they play with such unfettered happiness you find yourself thinking, "I'd love to be a piece of that, too."
"How often on tour that audience members told us and said, 'Watching you live, I picked up a drum kit'," says Alana, the most junior of the trio. "It is the greatest honour. That is recognition in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can encourage others to form a group."
"So everyone are welcome to be the honorary Haim sister."
Historic Milestone
The group are connecting from their homes, where they're recovering after an extensive tour in support of their new album, I Quit.
They're right now processing the news it's been shortlisted for best rock album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the first all-woman band ever in contention for the prize.
"I watch the nominations every year, so it sort of feels like The Truman Show when your name is announced," notes Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I hallucinating'?"
The importance of the accolade is deeply felt by the trio.
"We really set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a major milestone," adds Alana. "However we're just thankful for the women that inspired us."
Personal Turmoil and Candor
The record was born from a time of emotional upheaval. 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 move on.
The words track endings and goodbyes. The sisters want love, but not the relationships they've got. You can hear them figuring out in real life who they are becoming.
"That's a perfect description, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a mantra. You have to consciously practice shutting out the outside opinions and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Development of Music
That recent confidence called for a fresh approach – more raw and powerful than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that was founded on the drums.
"The drum sound is such a specific thing, and I care so much about it," she states.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our book," laughs Alana. "Our motto is, our albums cannot begin until we find the ideal drum sound."
Experiences and Shared Humor
The band's openness inspired the album's rollout, where the sisters shared some of their dating horror stories.
Someone broke up with Este over a medical concern. Alana shared a story of travelling to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.
"During these heartbreaks, 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 therapeutic."
A Secure Legacy
You can clearly sense a shift in the band. These days, Haim are more assured of their position in the industry.
They're major draws, with hit albums and an worldwide fan base.
However the sister act will consistently be their top priority.
"We have been performing since I was little," says Alana. "It feels as if no other path that we were meant to do. And I'm really fortunate we've gotten here and we're still making music."