Everyone is Invited to Be the Extra Haim Member.
"Any idea when you're speaking to Haim?" a text pops up. "I was hoping to ask if I can be their fourth member."
There is only a key snag: The sender also desires to be Haim's fourth member. Furthermore, we are far from alone. A host of famous fans have publicly coveted the position.
The evidence suggests an irresistible appeal is going on. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana launched their musical journey playing gigs at neighborhood delis with their parents. Presently, they stand as repeated Grammy contenders.
Similar to the best bands, they're a close gang. Their music videos frequently show them marching in unison down the roads of Los Angeles. On stage, they jam with such boundless happiness you find yourself thinking, "I want to be part of that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that audience members told us and said, 'After your show, I got a drum kit'," says Alana, the most junior of the trio. "It is the biggest honour. It is a prize in itself. We have succeeded if we can encourage people to form a group."
"Therefore anyone are welcome to be the next member of Haim."
Historic Nod
The band have called into a break, where they're resting up after an lengthy tour in support of their fourth album, I Quit.
They're right now processing the news it's been shortlisted for Best Rock Album at the Grammys – with Haim the very first all-female band ever in consideration for the award.
"I follow the lists every year, so it almost feels like a surreal movie when your name is announced," explains Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I hallucinating'?"
The significance of the nomination isn't lost on the trio.
"We deliberately set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a major milestone," continues Alana. "Yet we're just grateful for the female artists that paved the way."
Emotional Upheaval and Laughter
The record came out of a time of personal change. All three sisters were single, and the music captures that strange transitional period where you're relieved to be free, but not quite ready to start anew.
The lyrics follow breakups and partings. The sisters seek love, but not the relationships they've got. You can hear them figuring out in real life who they want to be.
"I love way of putting it, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a slogan. You have to actively work on blocking the noise and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."
Development of Sound
That recent toughness demanded a new sound – more unpolished and powerful than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that began with the drum sound.
"The drum sound is such a detailed thing, and I focus so intensely about it," she states.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our biography," jokes Alana. "Our motto is, our albums won't commence until we find the right drum sound."
Stories and Shared Laughter
The trio's honesty inspired the album's marketing, where the sisters shared some of their personal horror stories.
A former partner broke up with Este over a health consideration. Alana shared a story of flying to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a friendly slap at midnight.
"During these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's no hope," says Alana. "Thus to be able to laugh at those stories and hear others tell you even crazier stories, it's so amazing."
A Confident Future
It's not difficult sense a change in the band. Today, Haim are more certain of their place in the music world.
They're top-billed acts, with successful albums and an worldwide audience.
But the sister act will always be their top commitment.
"My sisters and I have been playing music since I was a young child," says Alana. "It's like no other path that we were destined for. And I'm really grateful we've gotten here and we're still kicking."
