The World Are Invited to Join as the Extra Haim Bandmate.
"When are you interviewing the band?" a message pops up. "My request was to ask if I can become their newest bandmate."
There is only one problem: The author likewise wants to be Haim's additional sibling. Furthermore, we are not alone. A host of famous fans have also petitioned for the position.
It's clear something is happening. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana launched their career playing gigs at neighborhood delis with their parents. Now they're multiple Grammy contenders.
Like all the greatest bands, they're a tight-knit unit. Their visuals repeatedly feature them marching in sync down the roads of Los Angeles. During performances, they jam with such boundless joy you can't help but think, "I wish to be a piece of that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that fans told us and said, 'Watching you live, I bought a bass'," says Alana, the most junior of the sisters. "That's the ultimate honour. That is recognition in itself. We've done our job if we can motivate people to start a band."
"Therefore all is invited to be the next part of the family."
Award Recognition
The band are speaking from home, where they're resting up after an major tour in for their latest album, I Quit.
They're currently processing the news it's been shortlisted for best rock album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the very first all-woman band ever in the running for the trophy.
"I watch the announcements every year, so it kind of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is called," notes Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this correctly or am I dreaming'?"
The importance of the nomination resonates with the band.
"We deliberately set out to make a rock album this time, so it's a significant step," adds Alana. "However we're just grateful for the pioneers that inspired us."
Emotional Upheaval and Candor
The album emerged from a time of personal change. 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 start anew.
The themes follow departures and farewells. The sisters want love, but not the relationships they've got. You can hear them figuring out in the moment who they want to be.
"That's a perfect summary, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a personal statement. You have to consciously practice shutting out the outside opinions and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."
Evolution of Sound
That newfound confidence called for a new sound – more unpolished and immediate than any of the music the band had done before.
For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that started with the drum sound.
"The drum sound is such a specific thing, and I am so passionate about it," she says.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the title of our memoir," quips Alana. "I always say, our albums won't commence until we find the perfect drum sound."
Anecdotes and Shared Laughter
The trio's honesty shaped the album's marketing, where the sisters shared some of their personal tales.
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 friendly slap at midnight.
"During these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's only darkness," says Alana. "Therefore to be able to share those stories and hear others tell you even crazier stories, it's incredible."
A Confident Path
One can easily sense a evolution in the band. Today, Haim are more confident of their standing in the music world.
They're festival headliners, with hit albums and an global audience.
But the band will consistently be their primary commitment.
"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 fortunate we've made it and we're still making music."