All Fans is Invited to Join as the Extra Haim Sisters Member.
"When are you speaking to the Haim sisters?" an inquiry pops up. "I wanted to ask if I can become their extra sister."
However, there remains a single issue: I also wants to be Haim's additional sibling. Furthermore, we are not alone. Multiple famous fans have openly petitioned for the role.
The evidence suggests a special quality is at play. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana started their musical journey playing gigs at neighborhood delis with their parents. Presently, they stand as multi-time Grammy nominees.
Like all the best groups, they're a close trio. Their visuals frequently show them walking in sync down the roads of Los Angeles. In concert, they jam with such unfettered happiness you can't help but think, "I'd love to be part of that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that young girls came up to us and said, 'Seeing you perform, I got a drum kit'," states Alana, the most junior of the trio. "That is the biggest compliment. That is recognition in itself. We've done our job if we can motivate others to make music."
"And thus anyone gets an invitation to be the fourth member of Haim."
Grammy Milestone
The group are connecting from a break, where they're resting up after an extensive tour in for their fourth album, I Quit.
They're right now celebrating the news it's been in the running for Best Rock Album at the Grammys – with Haim the pioneering female band ever in contention for the prize.
"I watch the lists every year, so it kind of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is read out," says Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this right or am I dreaming'?"
The significance of the accolade resonates with the band.
"We really set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a significant achievement," adds Alana. "However we're just thankful for the female artists that came before us."
Emotional Upheaval and Humour
The record emerged from a phase of transition. All three sisters were single, and the music captures that odd transitional period where you're glad to be free, but not yet ready to start anew.
The themes follow breakups and partings. The sisters want love, but not the kind of love they've experienced. You can hear them working out in real time who they are becoming.
"I love description, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is like a slogan. You have to actively work on ignoring the noise and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Evolution of Style
That developed confidence called for a different sonic direction – more organic and direct than any of the music the band had done before.
For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that was founded on 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 subject of our book," quips Alana. "I always say, our albums don't start until we find the ideal drum sound."
Experiences and Collective Laughter
The band's openness fueled the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters shared some of their romantic misadventures.
A former partner left Este over a medical concern. Alana shared a story of travelling to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a friendly slap at midnight.
"When you're going through these setbacks, you just feel like there's only darkness," notes Alana. "So to be able to share those stories and hear others tell you more outrageous stories, it's therapeutic."
A Secure Future
One can easily sense a shift in the band. Now, Haim are more confident of their place in the music world.
They're top-billed acts, with chart-topping albums and an worldwide audience.
Yet the sister act will consistently be their number one focus.
"Me and my siblings have been performing since I was a young child," concludes Alana. "It's like no alternative that we were meant to do. And I'm really grateful we've gotten here and we're still making music."