All Fans is Invited to Join as the Additional Haim Sisters Bandmate.
"Any idea when you're speaking to Haim?" a text reads. "I was hoping to ask if I can be their newest bandmate."
There is only one problem: I also wants to be Haim's newest recruit. What's more, we are not alone. A host of famous admirers have openly begged for the honor.
It's clear an irresistible appeal is at play. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana launched their musical journey playing gigs at neighborhood delis with their family. Presently, they stand as multiple Grammy hopefuls.
Similar to the most iconic ensembles, they're a inseparable unit. Their music videos repeatedly depict them marching in sync down the roads of Los Angeles. In concert, they jam with such boundless happiness you inevitably think, "I'd love to be a piece of that, too."
"How often on tour that fans approached us and said, 'Watching you live, I picked up a bass'," says Alana, the youngest of the Haim siblings. "That is the ultimate honor. That's an award in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can motivate others to make music."
"Therefore anyone is invited to be the fourth part of the family."
Historic Nod
The trio are speaking from their homes, where they're recovering after an extensive tour in promoting their latest album, I Quit.
They're right now reeling from the news it's been nominated for a top rock honor at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the pioneering female band ever in consideration for the trophy.
"I tune into the nominations every year, so it sort of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is announced," notes Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this correctly or am I dreaming'?"
The significance of the honor isn't lost on the band.
"We deliberately set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a major achievement," continues Alana. "But we're just grateful for the women that came before us."
Emotional Upheaval and Candor
The album was born from a period of transition. All three sisters ended up single, and the music captures that unique in-between place where you're relieved to be free, but not entirely ready to let go.
The lyrics track departures and partings. The sisters want love, but not the kind of love they've got. You can hear them determining in real time who they aspire to be.
"That's a perfect way of putting it, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a mantra. You have to consciously practice shutting out the criticism and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."
Evolution of Music
That developed toughness called for a new sound – more organic and powerful than any of the music the band had done before.
For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that started with the drums.
"The drum sound is such a detailed thing, and I focus so intensely about it," she emphasizes.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our memoir," laughs Alana. "I've said it, our albums don't start until we find the right drum sound."
Experiences and Collective Camaraderie
The trio's honesty shaped the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters disclosed some of their dating horror stories.
Someone broke up with Este over a medical consideration. Alana told a story of travelling to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a friendly slap at midnight.
"Experiencing these breakups, 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 Path
One can easily sense a shift in the band. Today, Haim are more certain of their standing in the music world.
They're top-billed acts, with chart-topping albums and an international following.
However the sister act will always be their primary focus.
"Me and my siblings have been making music since I was four," says Alana. "There is no other path that we were destined for. And I'm really grateful we've gotten here and we're still kicking."