All Fans is Welcome to Be the Extra Haim Sisters Sister.
"When are you chatting with Haim?" a text pops up. "I wanted to ask if I can become their extra sister."
There is only one problem: I also desires to be the Haims' additional sibling. Furthermore, we are not alone. Multiple high-profile admirers have publicly petitioned for the role.
It's clear something is at play. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana started their career playing gigs at local delicatessens with their family. Today, they are multi-time Grammy Award contenders.
Similar to the most iconic groups, they're a inseparable trio. Their visuals often show them walking in sync down the streets of Los Angeles. During performances, they perform with such pure happiness you find yourself thinking, "I wish to be involved in that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that audience members approached us and said, 'Watching you live, I got a guitar'," states Alana, the most junior of the trio. "That is the biggest compliment. It is a prize in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can encourage people to start a band."
"So all are welcome to be the honorary member of Haim."
Historic Nod
The band are speaking from a break, where they're taking a pause after an lengthy tour in promoting their new album, I Quit.
They're presently processing the news it's been nominated for Best Rock Album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the very first all-woman band ever in contention for the award.
"I watch the nominations every year, so it kind of feels like a surreal movie when your name is read out," notes Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this right or am I dreaming'?"
The importance of the nomination is deeply felt by the band.
"We truly set out to make a rock album this time, so it's a major milestone," continues Alana. "But we're just appreciative for the pioneers that came before us."
Emotional Upheaval and Laughter
The project came out of a time of personal change. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music captures that strange liminal space where you're relieved to be free, but not entirely ready to move on.
The lyrics track endings and goodbyes. The sisters desire love, but not the kind of love they've had. You can hear them determining in the moment who they aspire to be.
"That's a perfect description, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a mantra. You have to consciously practice blocking the noise and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Evolution of Style
That recent toughness called for a new sound – more organic and immediate than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who helped produce the album, that started with the drums.
"Percussion is such a specific thing, and I focus so intensely about it," she emphasizes.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the title of our memoir," laughs Alana. "I've said it, our albums won't commence until we find the perfect drum sound."
Stories and Collective Humor
The band's honesty inspired the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters disclosed some of their romantic misadventures.
A former partner broke up with Este over a medical consideration. Alana recalled a story of flying to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture at midnight.
"When you're going through these breakups, you just feel like there's no light," says Alana. "Therefore to be able to find humor in those stories and hear others tell you more outrageous stories, it's therapeutic."
A Confident Path
You can clearly sense a change in the band. Now, Haim are more certain of their place in the music world.
They're major draws, with hit albums and an global audience.
However Haim will forever be their top commitment.
"My sisters and I have been playing music since I was a young child," shares Alana. "There is no other path that we were supposed to do. And I'm really grateful we've made it and we're still kicking."