Everyone Are Invited to Join as the Extra Haim Sister.
"When are you speaking to the band?" a message arrives. "I was hoping to ask if I can join as their newest bandmate."
However, there remains a single issue: The author likewise desires to be the Haims' additional sibling. Furthermore, we are in plentiful company. Multiple famous supporters have publicly coveted the honor.
It's clear an irresistible appeal is at play. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana started their path playing gigs at local delicatessens with their parents. Presently, they stand as multi-time Grammy Award contenders.
Like all the best groups, they're a close trio. Their music videos repeatedly depict them walking in sync down the roads of Los Angeles. On stage, they perform with such pure happiness you inevitably think, "I wish to be a piece of that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that fans told us and said, 'Seeing you perform, I picked up a guitar'," says Alana, the most junior of the trio. "That is the biggest honour. That's an award in itself. We've done our job if we can encourage young girls to make music."
"Therefore anyone gets an invitation to be the next part of the family."
Award Recognition
The band are connecting from home, where they're recovering after an lengthy tour in for their new album, I Quit.
They're right now processing the news it's been nominated for a top rock honor at the Grammys – with Haim the first all-female band ever in consideration for the award.
"I tune into the nominations every year, so it sort of feels like The Truman Show when your name is read out," says Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this right or am I hallucinating'?"
The significance of the nomination resonates with the band.
"We truly set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a significant milestone," continues Alana. "However we're just appreciative for the pioneers that paved the way."
Personal Turmoil and Humour
The project came out of a time of personal change. All three sisters ended up single, and the music inhabits that odd transitional period where you're glad to be free, but not quite ready to move on.
The lyrics track departures and goodbyes. The sisters seek love, but not the specific love they've had. You can hear them working out in the moment who they want to be.
"That's a perfect description, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is like a slogan. You have to actively work on shutting out the criticism and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Refinement of Music
That recent resilience required a new sound – more organic and immediate than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that was founded on the percussion.
"Percussion is such a nuanced thing, and I focus so intensely about it," she states.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our book," quips Alana. "I always say, our albums cannot begin until we find the ideal drum sound."
Anecdotes and Collective Humor
The band's candor inspired the album's rollout, where the sisters revealed some of their personal horror stories.
One man left Este over a medical consideration. Alana shared a story of travelling to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.
"Experiencing these setbacks, you just feel like there's only darkness," notes Alana. "So to be able to share those stories and have them tell you wilder stories, it's so amazing."
A Secure Path
One can easily sense a change in the band. Today, Haim are more certain of their standing in the music world.
They're festival headliners, with hit albums and an worldwide audience.
But the band will always be their top commitment.
"My sisters and I have been playing music since I was four," says Alana. "It's like no other path that we were meant to do. And I'm really grateful we've reached this point and we're still making music."