Everyone is Welcome to Join as the Fourth Haim Sisters Member.
"When are you interviewing the band?" a message arrives. "I wanted to ask if I can join as their extra sister."
There's just one problem: The author likewise wants to be the Haims' fourth member. What's more, we are not alone. Several high-profile fans have also coveted the honor.
It's clear an irresistible appeal is going on. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana started their musical journey doing sets at small eateries with their parents. Presently, they stand as multiple Grammy contenders.
In the tradition of the best ensembles, they're a tight-knit unit. Their visuals often depict them striding in sync down the streets of Los Angeles. During performances, they jam with such unfettered joy you find yourself thinking, "I'd love to be a piece of that, too."
"The amount of times on tour that young girls told us and said, 'Watching you live, I got a bass'," says Alana, the youngest of the sisters. "That's the biggest honour. That's an award in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can encourage people to form a group."
"Therefore everyone is invited to be the fourth member of Haim."
Historic Milestone
The band are speaking from a break, where they're resting up after an major tour in for their new album, I Quit.
They're currently celebrating the news it's been shortlisted for best rock album at the Grammys – with Haim the pioneering all-female band ever in contention for the prize.
"I tune into the announcements every year, so it sort of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is announced," notes Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this right or am I dreaming'?"
The weight of the honor is deeply felt by the sisters.
"We truly set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a huge step," says Alana. "Yet we're just thankful for the female artists that paved the way."
Personal Turmoil and Candor
The project emerged from a period of transition. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music inhabits that odd in-between place where you're glad to be free, but not yet ready to start anew.
The lyrics detail breakups and partings. The sisters seek love, but not the kind of love they've had. You can hear them determining in real life who they aspire to be.
"I love summary, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a mantra. You have to make an effort in blocking the outside opinions and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."
Evolution of Sound
That recent confidence demanded a new sound – more organic and direct than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who helped produce the album, that began with the percussion.
"Percussion is such a nuanced thing, and I care so much about it," she says.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our biography," jokes Alana. "I always say, our albums won't commence until we find the ideal drum sound."
Experiences and Collective Laughter
The trio's openness shaped the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters disclosed some of their romantic misadventures.
One man left Este over a health consideration. Alana recalled a story of flying to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.
"When you're going through these setbacks, you just feel like there's no hope," explains Alana. "So to be able to share those stories and hear others tell you wilder stories, it's therapeutic."
An Assured Legacy
It's not difficult sense a change in the band. These days, Haim are more confident of their place in the rock pantheon.
They're major draws, with hit albums and an international audience.
However the sister act will forever be their top commitment.
"Me and my siblings have been performing since I was four," shares Alana. "It feels as if no alternative that we were supposed to do. And I'm really grateful we've made it and we're still going strong."
