The World Are Invited to Become the Fourth Haim Bandmate.
"Do you know when you'll be chatting with Haim?" an inquiry arrives. "I was hoping to ask if I can join as their fourth member."
There's just a single issue: I also longs to be the Haims' newest recruit. Furthermore, we are far from alone. Multiple famous fans have openly coveted the honor.
The evidence suggests a special quality is happening. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana began their musical journey playing gigs at local delicatessens with their parents. Presently, they stand as multi-time Grammy hopefuls.
Similar to the most iconic bands, they're a inseparable trio. Their videos repeatedly depict them striding in unison down the streets of Los Angeles. In concert, they jam with such pure exuberance you find yourself thinking, "I wish to be a piece of that, too."
"How often on tour that audience members came up to us and said, 'After your show, I picked up a bass'," states Alana, the youngest of the sisters. "That is the greatest honor. That's an award in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can motivate young girls to make music."
"And thus anyone gets an invitation to be the fourth Haim sister."
Historic Recognition
The band have called into a break, where they're taking a pause after an major tour in promoting their new album, I Quit.
They're presently processing the news it's been in the running for best rock album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the pioneering all-female band ever in contention for the prize.
"I watch the lists every year, so it sort of feels like The Truman Show when your name is called," notes Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this right or am I imagining things'?"
The significance of the honor is deeply felt by the band.
"We deliberately set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a significant achievement," continues Alana. "Yet we're just thankful for the female artists that inspired us."
Heartbreak and Laughter
The record came out of a phase of transition. All three sisters were single, and the music captures that odd liminal space where you're happy to be free, but not quite ready to move on.
The lyrics track breakups and farewells. The sisters seek love, but not the specific love they've had. You can hear them working out in real time who they want to be.
"I adore way of putting it, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a slogan. You have to actively work on blocking the outside opinions and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."
Refinement of Style
That newfound toughness called for a different sonic direction – more raw and powerful than any of the music the band had done before.
For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that was founded on the drums.
"The drum sound is 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've said it, our albums cannot begin until we find the ideal drum sound."
Experiences and Collective Camaraderie
The trio's candor fueled the album's marketing, where the sisters shared some of their personal horror stories.
One man left Este over a health consideration. Alana shared a story of travelling to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a friendly slap at midnight.
"When you're going through these breakups, you just feel like there's no light," explains Alana. "Thus to be able to share those stories and have them tell you wilder stories, it's therapeutic."
A Confident Path
One can easily sense a shift in the band. Now, Haim are more confident of their standing in the music world.
They're festival headliners, with successful albums and an global audience.
Yet Haim will forever be their primary commitment.
"We have been performing since I was little," shares Alana. "It's like no other path that we were meant to do. And I'm really fortunate we've made it and we're still kicking."