All Fans Are Welcome to Be the Extra Haim Sisters Sister.
"Do you know when you'll be interviewing Haim?" a message pops up. "My request was to ask if I can join as their newest bandmate."
There is only a single issue: I also longs to be the Haims' additional sibling. What's more, we are not alone. Multiple high-profile supporters have openly begged for the honor.
The evidence suggests an irresistible appeal is at play. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana launched their career doing sets at small eateries with their family. Presently, they stand as multiple Grammy hopefuls.
In the tradition of the greatest ensembles, they're a close trio. Their videos frequently show them striding in unison down the avenues of Los Angeles. During performances, they jam with such unfettered happiness you find yourself thinking, "I'd love to be part of that, too."
"The amount of times on tour that audience members 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. It is a prize in itself. We've done our job if we can encourage others to make music."
"And thus anyone is invited to be the honorary Haim sister."
Grammy Nod
The trio are speaking from their homes, where they're taking a pause after an major tour in support of their latest album, I Quit.
They're right now celebrating the news it's been nominated for best rock album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the very first all-female band ever in consideration for the award.
"I tune into the announcements every year, so it kind of feels like a surreal movie when your name is read out," notes Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this right or am I dreaming'?"
The significance of the accolade resonates with the sisters.
"We deliberately set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a major achievement," says Alana. "But we're just grateful for the women that came before us."
Emotional Upheaval and Humour
The album came out of a time of transition. All three sisters were single, and the music inhabits that odd transitional period where you're happy to be free, but not quite ready to let go.
The words track departures and farewells. The sisters want love, but not the kind of love they've got. You can hear them determining in real life who they aspire to be.
"I adore way of putting it, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a personal statement. You have to make an effort in shutting out the outside opinions and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."
Evolution of Sound
That newfound confidence called for a different sonic direction – more unpolished and immediate than any of the music the band had done before.
For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that started with the percussion.
"Percussion is such a specific thing, and I focus so intensely about it," she says.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our book," jokes Alana. "I always say, our albums don't start until we find the right drum sound."
Experiences and Collective Camaraderie
The trio's honesty shaped the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters shared some of their romantic horror stories.
One man broke up with Este over a medical concern. Alana told a story of travelling to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a friendly slap at midnight.
"During these breakups, you just feel like there's no hope," notes Alana. "Therefore to be able to find humor in those stories and hear others tell you wilder stories, it's so amazing."
An Assured Future
One can easily sense a change in the band. These days, Haim are more certain of their standing in the rock pantheon.
They're top-billed acts, with hit albums and an international audience.
However Haim will forever be their top priority.
"Me and my siblings have been playing music since I was little," concludes Alana. "There is nothing else that we were destined for. And I'm really grateful we've gotten here and we're still kicking."