Everyone is Invited to Be the Fourth Haim Bandmate.
"Any idea when you're interviewing the band?" a text reads. "My request was to ask if I can become their extra sister."
However, there remains a single issue: I also longs to be the Haims' fourth member. And we're not alone. Multiple famous fans have also coveted the honor.
One thing is obvious a special quality is at play. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana started their career doing sets at small eateries with their parents. Presently, they stand as multiple Grammy Award contenders.
In the tradition of the most iconic bands, they're a tight-knit gang. Their visuals frequently depict them marching in harmony down the avenues of Los Angeles. During performances, they jam with such unfettered joy you inevitably think, "I'd love to be part of that, too."
"How often on tour that young girls told us and said, 'Seeing you perform, I picked up a drum kit'," remarks Alana, the youngest of the Haim siblings. "That is the biggest honor. It is a prize in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can motivate others to make music."
"So everyone gets an invitation to be the honorary Haim sister."
Grammy Milestone
The trio have called into their homes, where they're recovering after an extensive tour in support of their new album, I Quit.
They're currently celebrating the news it's been nominated for best rock album at the Grammys – with Haim the first female band ever in contention for the trophy.
"I tune into the announcements every year, so it sort of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is read out," explains Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I imagining things'?"
The importance of the honor is deeply felt by the sisters.
"We truly set out to make a rock album this time, so it's a major step," says Alana. "But we're just appreciative for the female artists that inspired us."
Emotional Upheaval and Candor
The project was born from a period 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 entirely ready to start anew.
The words detail 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 want to be.
"I love summary, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a mantra. You have to actively work on shutting out the noise and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Evolution of Sound
That developed confidence called for a new sound – more organic and direct than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who helped produce the album, that started with the percussion.
"The drum sound is such a nuanced thing, and I am so passionate about it," she states.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the title of our book," quips Alana. "Our motto is, our albums cannot begin until we find the right drum sound."
Experiences and Shared Camaraderie
The band's candor fueled the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters disclosed some of their romantic misadventures.
Someone left Este over a medical concern. Alana recalled a story of flying to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture at midnight.
"During these setbacks, you just feel like there's no light," notes Alana. "So to be able to laugh at 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. Today, Haim are more assured of their place in the music world.
They're festival headliners, with hit albums and an international fan base.
But Haim will consistently be their number one focus.
"My sisters and I have been making music since I was four," shares Alana. "There is no alternative that we were destined for. And I'm really fortunate we've gotten here and we're still making music."
