Everyone Are Welcome to Join as the Extra Haim Sister.
"Any idea when you're speaking to the Haim sisters?" a text reads. "My request was to ask if I can join as their extra sister."
However, there remains a key snag: The sender also longs to be the Haims' fourth member. Furthermore, we are in plentiful company. A host of high-profile supporters have publicly begged for the honor.
The evidence suggests an irresistible appeal is going on. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana started their career performing shows at local delicatessens with their family. Now they're multiple Grammy Award nominees.
In the tradition of the best groups, they're a tight-knit gang. Their videos frequently depict them walking in unison down the roads of Los Angeles. During performances, they perform with such boundless happiness you find yourself thinking, "I'd love to be part of that, too."
"How often on tour that young girls approached us and said, 'After your show, I picked up a guitar'," says Alana, the youngest of the Haim siblings. "That is the ultimate honour. That's an award in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can motivate others to form a group."
"Therefore anyone are welcome to be the fourth part of the family."
Historic Milestone
The trio are connecting from their homes, where they're taking a pause after an major tour in support of their new album, I Quit.
They're right now reeling from the news it's been shortlisted for best rock album at the Grammys – with Haim the very first all-woman band ever in consideration for the trophy.
"I watch the nominations every year, so it almost feels like a surreal movie when your name is announced," explains Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this right or am I hallucinating'?"
The significance of the honor resonates with the trio.
"We really set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a significant milestone," continues Alana. "Yet we're just thankful for the women that paved the way."
Emotional Upheaval and Humour
The project emerged from a time of transition. All three sisters ended up single, and the music captures that strange in-between place where you're glad to be free, but not entirely ready to let go.
The lyrics follow departures and farewells. The sisters desire love, but not the specific love they've had. You can hear them figuring out in the moment who they are becoming.
"I love summary, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a slogan. You have to actively work on blocking the criticism and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Evolution of Style
That recent confidence called for a new sound – more unpolished and immediate than any of the music the band had done before.
For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that started with the drums.
"Drums are such a nuanced thing, and I care so much about it," she emphasizes.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our memoir," laughs Alana. "I've said it, our albums cannot begin until we find the right drum sound."
Anecdotes and Collective Laughter
The band's honesty inspired the album's marketing, where the sisters revealed some of their dating misadventures.
One man broke up with Este over a health consideration. Alana shared a story of travelling to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture at midnight.
"When you're going through 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 more outrageous stories, it's therapeutic."
A Confident Path
One can easily sense a change in the band. Now, Haim are more confident of their standing in the rock pantheon.
They're major draws, with hit albums and an global audience.
However the sister act will forever be their top commitment.
"Me and my siblings have been performing since I was little," says Alana. "It's like no alternative that we were destined for. And I'm really grateful we've reached this point and we're still making music."