All Fans is Welcome to Join as the Fourth Haim Sisters Member.
"Do you know when you'll be speaking to the band?" a message reads. "My request was to ask if I can join as their fourth member."
There is only one problem: I also longs to be the Haims' newest recruit. And we're not alone. Several high-profile fans have publicly coveted the honor.
One thing is obvious something is happening. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana launched their musical journey performing shows at neighborhood delis with their family. Presently, they stand as multiple Grammy Award contenders.
Similar to the most iconic bands, they're a tight-knit unit. Their visuals repeatedly depict them striding in harmony down the roads of Los Angeles. In concert, they play with such pure exuberance you can't help but think, "I want to be part of that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that young girls came up to us and said, 'After your show, I bought a guitar'," states Alana, the most junior of the Haim siblings. "That's the greatest honour. It is a prize in itself. We've done our job if we can motivate people to make music."
"Therefore everyone are welcome to be the next member of Haim."
Grammy Recognition
The trio are speaking from their homes, where they're recovering after an lengthy tour in support of their latest album, I Quit.
They're presently processing 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 tune into the lists every year, so it almost feels like a surreal movie when your name is called," explains Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this correctly or am I imagining things'?"
The weight of the honor is deeply felt by the sisters.
"We deliberately set out to make a rock album this time, so it's a significant achievement," continues Alana. "Yet we're just grateful for the pioneers that paved the way."
Heartbreak and Candor
The album was born from a time of personal change. All three sisters ended up single, and the music explores that odd in-between place where you're relieved to be free, but not quite ready to let go.
The themes follow endings and partings. The sisters want love, but not the relationships they've had. You can hear them determining in real time who they aspire to be.
"That's a perfect way of putting it, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is like a mantra. You have to make an effort in ignoring the outside opinions and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."
Evolution of Music
That newfound toughness called for a different sonic direction – more raw and immediate than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that began with the drum sound.
"The drum sound is such a nuanced thing, and I am so passionate about it," she emphasizes.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our memoir," quips Alana. "Our motto is, our albums cannot begin until we find the right drum sound."
Experiences and Shared Camaraderie
The trio's candor inspired the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters revealed some of their personal tales.
One man left Este over a health concern. Alana shared a story of travelling to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a friendly slap at midnight.
"When you're going through these breakups, you just feel like there's no hope," notes Alana. "Thus to be able to share those stories and have them tell you more outrageous stories, it's so amazing."
An Assured Path
One can easily sense a change in the band. Now, Haim are more assured of their place in the rock pantheon.
They're top-billed acts, with successful albums and an worldwide fan base.
Yet Haim will always be their top commitment.
"Me and my siblings have been performing since I was four," shares Alana. "It's like no alternative that we were destined for. And I'm really fortunate we've gotten here and we're still going strong."
