The World Are Encouraged to Be the Fourth Haim Bandmate.
"Any idea when you're chatting with Haim?" a text arrives. "I wanted to ask if I can be their newest bandmate."
There is only a single issue: The sender also desires to be the Haims' fourth member. And we're not alone. A host of high-profile admirers have also begged for the role.
The evidence suggests something is happening. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana began their career playing gigs at small eateries with their parents. Now they're multi-time Grammy nominees.
Similar to the greatest groups, they're a close gang. Their visuals frequently depict them marching in unison down the avenues of Los Angeles. In concert, they play with such pure joy you find yourself thinking, "I'd love to be part of that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that young girls came up to us and said, 'Watching you live, I picked up a bass'," remarks Alana, the youngest of the sisters. "That's the ultimate honor. That's an award in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can inspire young girls to make music."
"Therefore everyone is invited to be the next member of Haim."
Grammy Milestone
The trio are speaking from home, where they're resting up after an extensive tour in promoting their new album, I Quit.
They're presently celebrating the news it's been in the running for Best Rock Album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the very first all-woman band ever in contention for the trophy.
"I watch the lists every year, so it sort of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is read out," notes Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this right or am I hallucinating'?"
The importance of the honor resonates with the trio.
"We really set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a huge milestone," adds Alana. "Yet we're just grateful for the women that inspired us."
Personal Turmoil and Candor
The album came out of a phase of emotional upheaval. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music captures that strange transitional period where you're glad to be free, but not quite ready to start anew.
The words detail breakups and farewells. The sisters desire love, but not the specific love they've had. You can hear them working out in real life who they want to be.
"I adore description, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a slogan. You have to actively work on blocking the outside opinions and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Development of Sound
That newfound resilience demanded a fresh approach – more organic and immediate than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who helped produce the album, that started with the percussion.
"The drum sound is such a nuanced thing, and I am so passionate about it," she says.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our book," laughs Alana. "Our motto is, our albums don't start until we find the ideal drum sound."
Stories and Shared Laughter
The band's candor inspired the album's rollout, where the sisters revealed some of their romantic misadventures.
A former partner broke up with Este over a health concern. Alana recalled a story of travelling to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture at midnight.
"During these setbacks, you just feel like there's only darkness," explains Alana. "Thus to be able to laugh at those stories and hear others tell you more outrageous stories, it's so amazing."
A Confident Path
It's not difficult sense a evolution in the band. These days, Haim are more certain of their standing in the music world.
They're top-billed acts, with chart-topping albums and an international fan base.
However Haim will forever be their top priority.
"My sisters and I have been performing since I was four," concludes Alana. "There is no alternative that we were meant to do. And I'm really fortunate we've reached this point and we're still kicking."