All Fans Are Encouraged to Become the Fourth Haim Bandmate.
"Any idea when you're chatting with the Haim sisters?" a text arrives. "I wanted to ask if I can become their fourth member."
There's just a key snag: The author likewise wants to be Haim's additional sibling. And we're in plentiful company. Multiple famous supporters have openly petitioned for the honor.
It's clear a special quality is going on. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana started their musical journey performing shows at small eateries with their parents. Presently, they stand as repeated Grammy nominees.
Like all the most iconic ensembles, they're a tight-knit trio. Their visuals frequently feature them marching in sync down the avenues of Los Angeles. In concert, they play with such boundless joy you inevitably think, "I wish to be involved in that, too."
"How often on tour that young girls came up to us and said, 'After your show, I got a drum kit'," remarks Alana, the youngest of the sisters. "It is the biggest compliment. That is recognition in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can inspire young girls to make music."
"And thus anyone gets an invitation to be the fourth part of the family."
Grammy Nod
The trio are connecting from their homes, where they're taking a pause after an extensive tour in support of their new album, I Quit.
They're currently processing the news it's been nominated for best rock album at the Grammys – with Haim the very first female band ever in contention for the trophy.
"I follow the lists every year, so it sort of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is announced," says Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this right or am I dreaming'?"
The importance of the nomination resonates with the band.
"We really set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a significant step," says Alana. "However we're just grateful for the women that came before us."
Heartbreak and Humour
The album came out of a period of emotional upheaval. All three sisters ended up single, and the music captures that odd transitional period where you're relieved to be free, but not quite ready to start anew.
The words follow endings and farewells. The sisters seek love, but not the specific love they've experienced. You can hear them determining in real life who they aspire to be.
"That's a perfect way of putting it, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a mantra. You have to make an effort in blocking the noise and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."
Development of Sound
That newfound toughness called for a new sound – more raw and powerful than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that began with the drum sound.
"Percussion is such a nuanced thing, and I am so passionate about it," she says.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our book," laughs Alana. "I always say, our albums won't commence until we find the right drum sound."
Stories and Collective Humor
The trio's openness shaped the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters shared some of their dating misadventures.
A former partner broke up with Este over a medical concern. Alana recalled a story of travelling to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.
"When you're going through these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's no light," notes Alana. "So to be able to laugh at those stories and have them tell you more outrageous stories, it's incredible."
A Secure Future
It's not difficult sense a evolution in the band. These days, Haim are more certain of their position in the rock pantheon.
They're top-billed acts, with hit albums and an worldwide fan base.
However the sister act will consistently be their primary commitment.
"My sisters and I have been performing since I was little," concludes Alana. "It feels as if no alternative that we were destined for. And I'm really fortunate we've made it and we're still making music."