The World Are Invited to Be the Extra Haim Member.
"When are you speaking to the band?" a text arrives. "My request was to ask if I can join as their extra sister."
There is only a single issue: The author likewise wants to be the Haims' additional sibling. Furthermore, we are in plentiful company. Several celebrated fans have publicly petitioned for the position.
The evidence suggests an irresistible appeal is going on. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana started their career playing gigs at local delicatessens with their parents. Today, they are multiple Grammy hopefuls.
Like all the greatest groups, they're a inseparable trio. Their visuals frequently feature them walking in unison down the avenues of Los Angeles. In concert, they play with such boundless joy you can't help but think, "I want to be a piece of that, too."
"The amount of times on tour that young girls told us and said, 'Seeing you perform, I bought a drum kit'," says Alana, the most junior of the trio. "That is the ultimate honor. That's an award in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can motivate young girls to start a band."
"And thus all is invited to be the honorary member of Haim."
Award Recognition
The trio have called into a break, where they're taking a pause after an extensive tour in support of their latest album, I Quit.
They're currently processing the news it's been nominated for Best Rock Album at the Grammys – with Haim the pioneering female band ever in the running for the trophy.
"I tune into the lists every year, so it almost feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is announced," notes Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this correctly or am I hallucinating'?"
The weight of the accolade isn't lost on the trio.
"We really set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a significant achievement," says Alana. "However we're just grateful for the female artists that paved the way."
Heartbreak and Humour
The project came out of a period of transition. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music captures that odd transitional period where you're relieved to be free, but not quite ready to let go.
The lyrics follow breakups and farewells. The sisters seek love, but not the relationships they've had. You can hear them figuring out in real time who they are becoming.
"I love description, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a personal statement. You have to consciously practice ignoring the criticism and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."
Development of Style
That recent resilience called for a different sonic direction – more organic and immediate than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that started with the percussion.
"The drum sound is such a nuanced thing, and I am so passionate about it," she emphasizes.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our book," quips Alana. "I always say, our albums cannot begin until we find the right drum sound."
Experiences and Collective Laughter
The trio's openness inspired the album's marketing, where the sisters shared some of their romantic misadventures.
One man ended things with 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.
"During these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's only darkness," explains Alana. "Thus to be able to laugh at those stories and have them tell you wilder stories, it's incredible."
A Secure Future
It's not difficult sense a shift in the band. These days, Haim are more assured of their place in the industry.
They're major draws, with successful albums and an worldwide following.
Yet the band will always be their primary priority.
"We have been making music since I was four," says Alana. "There is no alternative that we were supposed to do. And I'm really fortunate we've reached this point and we're still kicking."