Everyone is Encouraged to Be the Fourth Haim Member.
"When are you chatting with the band?" an inquiry reads. "I wanted to ask if I can become their newest bandmate."
There's just a single issue: The author likewise longs to be the Haims' fourth member. And we're far from alone. A host of high-profile admirers have openly coveted the role.
The evidence suggests an irresistible appeal is at play. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana started their career performing shows at neighborhood delis with their family. Presently, they stand as multi-time Grammy Award hopefuls.
Like all the best groups, they're a close gang. Their videos frequently show them walking in harmony down the avenues of Los Angeles. In concert, they jam with such boundless exuberance you inevitably think, "I'd love to be part of that, too."
"The amount of times on tour that fans approached us and said, 'After your show, I bought a drum kit'," states Alana, the most junior of the trio. "It is the biggest honour. That is recognition in itself. We've done our job if we can encourage others to start a band."
"Therefore anyone gets an invitation to be the next part of the family."
Grammy Recognition
The band are speaking from their homes, where they're recovering after an lengthy tour in promoting their fourth album, I Quit.
They're currently celebrating the news it's been in the running for a top rock honor at the Grammys – with Haim the very first all-female band ever in consideration for the award.
"I watch the announcements every year, so it almost feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is read out," says Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I hallucinating'?"
The significance of the accolade resonates with the trio.
"We really set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a significant milestone," continues Alana. "Yet we're just thankful for the pioneers that paved the way."
Emotional Upheaval and Laughter
The album emerged from a period of personal change. All three sisters were single, and the music inhabits that odd liminal space where you're glad to be free, but not entirely ready to let go.
The lyrics follow breakups and farewells. The sisters want love, but not the relationships they've had. You can hear them figuring out in real time who they aspire to be.
"I adore summary, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a personal statement. You have to make an effort in shutting out the criticism and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Evolution of Sound
That recent toughness called for a fresh approach – more organic and immediate than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that was founded on the percussion.
"Drums are such a specific thing, and I am so passionate about it," she emphasizes.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our memoir," quips Alana. "I always say, our albums cannot begin until we find the right drum sound."
Stories and Shared Laughter
The trio's candor fueled the album's rollout, where the sisters disclosed some of their dating misadventures.
Someone left Este over a medical concern. Alana told 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 more outrageous stories, it's so amazing."
An Assured Path
It's not difficult sense a shift in the band. Now, Haim are more certain of their standing in the music world.
They're top-billed acts, with chart-topping albums and an worldwide audience.
Yet Haim will always be their primary focus.
"My sisters and I have been making music since I was little," says Alana. "It's like no alternative that we were meant to do. And I'm really grateful we've made it and we're still making music."