The World Are Encouraged to Be the Extra Haim Sisters Sister.
"Do you know when you'll be interviewing the Haim sisters?" a message reads. "My request was to ask if I can become their newest bandmate."
However, there remains one problem: The sender also longs to be Haim's fourth member. What's more, we are far from alone. Multiple high-profile fans have also petitioned for the position.
The evidence suggests a special quality is going on. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana started their musical journey doing sets at small eateries with their parents. Now they're multi-time Grammy hopefuls.
Similar to the most iconic ensembles, they're a tight-knit gang. Their music videos often feature them striding in harmony down the streets of Los Angeles. On stage, they jam with such boundless joy you find yourself thinking, "I'd love to be a piece of that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that young girls told us and said, 'Seeing you perform, I got a bass'," says Alana, the most junior of the Haim siblings. "That is the biggest honour. That's an award in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can encourage young girls to start a band."
"And thus everyone are welcome to be the fourth part of the family."
Award Milestone
The trio have called into home, where they're taking a pause after an lengthy tour in support of their new 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 the running for the prize.
"I tune into the lists every year, so it almost feels like The Truman Show when your name is read out," notes Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this right or am I dreaming'?"
The weight of the nomination resonates with the band.
"We deliberately set out to make a rock album this time, so it's a significant milestone," adds Alana. "But we're just grateful for the female artists that came before us."
Personal Turmoil and Humour
The record was born from a time of emotional upheaval. All three sisters ended up single, and the music inhabits that strange liminal space where you're glad to be free, but not yet ready to move on.
The lyrics detail breakups and farewells. The sisters desire love, but not the specific love they've got. You can hear them figuring out in real time who they are becoming.
"I adore description, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a mantra. You have to consciously practice ignoring the criticism and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Development of Sound
That newfound resilience demanded a new sound – more organic 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.
"Drums are such a specific thing, and I focus so intensely about it," she emphasizes.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our memoir," laughs Alana. "I've said it, our albums cannot begin until we find the right drum sound."
Stories and Collective Laughter
The trio's candor shaped the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters shared some of their dating horror stories.
Someone left Este over a health concern. Alana recalled a story of travelling to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.
"Experiencing these setbacks, you just feel like there's no light," explains Alana. "Thus to be able to find humor in those stories and hear others tell you even crazier stories, it's incredible."
A Confident Legacy
One can easily sense a evolution in the band. Now, Haim are more confident of their place in the rock pantheon.
They're festival headliners, with hit albums and an global audience.
Yet the sister act will consistently be their top commitment.
"My sisters and I have been playing music since I was little," says Alana. "There is no other path that we were destined for. And I'm really grateful we've reached this point and we're still kicking."