All Fans Are Invited to Join as the Extra Haim Sisters Bandmate.
"Any idea when you're interviewing the Haim sisters?" a message pops up. "My request was to ask if I can be their extra sister."
However, there remains a single issue: The sender also wants to be the Haims' newest recruit. What's more, we are far from alone. Several celebrated fans have publicly petitioned for the honor.
It's clear a special quality is going on. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana began their career performing shows at neighborhood delis with their parents. Today, they are multiple Grammy Award nominees.
In the tradition of the most iconic ensembles, they're a close unit. Their music videos repeatedly feature them walking in harmony down the avenues of Los Angeles. On stage, they play with such pure exuberance you find yourself thinking, "I'd love to be involved in that, too."
"The amount of times on tour that young girls approached us and said, 'After your show, I got a bass'," remarks Alana, the most junior of the Haim siblings. "It is the ultimate honour. That is recognition in itself. We have succeeded if we can inspire people to start a band."
"Therefore all are welcome to be the honorary Haim sister."
Historic Milestone
The trio have called into home, where they're taking a pause after an extensive tour in for their fourth album, I Quit.
They're right now celebrating the news it's been shortlisted for best rock album at the Grammys – with Haim the very first female band ever in consideration for the trophy.
"I tune into the announcements every year, so it almost feels like The Truman Show when your name is announced," explains Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this right or am I hallucinating'?"
The importance of the accolade is deeply felt by the trio.
"We deliberately set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a huge achievement," says Alana. "But we're just grateful for the pioneers that came before us."
Heartbreak and Laughter
The record emerged from a phase of emotional upheaval. All three sisters ended up single, and the music inhabits that unique in-between place where you're happy to be free, but not quite ready to start anew.
The lyrics detail departures and goodbyes. The sisters desire love, but not the relationships they've had. You can hear them figuring out in real time who they are becoming.
"I love way of putting it, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a personal statement. You have to consciously practice blocking the noise and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."
Refinement of Sound
That newfound confidence called for a fresh approach – more organic and powerful than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who helped produce the album, that was founded on the drums.
"Percussion is such a nuanced thing, and I care so much about it," she emphasizes.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our book," laughs Alana. "I've said it, our albums don't start until we find the right drum sound."
Anecdotes and Collective Humor
The band's candor inspired the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters shared some of their dating misadventures.
A former partner broke up with Este over a medical concern. Alana shared a story of travelling to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.
"Experiencing these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's no hope," explains Alana. "So to be able to laugh at those stories and have them tell you even crazier stories, it's incredible."
An Assured Legacy
It's not difficult sense a change in the band. These days, Haim are more certain of their position in the industry.
They're major draws, with hit albums and an global fan base.
However the sister act will consistently be their primary focus.
"We have been making music since I was a young child," concludes Alana. "There is no other path that we were meant to do. And I'm really grateful we've gotten here and we're still kicking."