All Fans is Invited to Become the Additional Haim Sisters Member.
"Any idea when you're speaking to the band?" a message pops up. "I wanted to ask if I can become their extra sister."
However, there remains a single issue: The sender also wants to be the Haims' additional sibling. Furthermore, we are in plentiful company. A host of famous supporters have also begged for the position.
It's clear a special quality is happening. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana began their path performing shows at local delicatessens with their family. Presently, they stand as repeated Grammy Award hopefuls.
Similar to the best groups, they're a inseparable gang. Their videos frequently show them marching in sync down the roads of Los Angeles. On stage, they jam with such unfettered joy you can't help but think, "I wish to be part of that, too."
"The amount of times on tour that audience members told us and said, 'Watching you live, I got a bass'," remarks Alana, the youngest of the sisters. "That's the biggest honour. It is a prize in itself. We've done our job if we can encourage others to form a group."
"Therefore everyone is invited to be the fourth member of Haim."
Historic Recognition
The band are connecting from home, where they're recovering after an major tour in for their fourth album, I Quit.
They're currently reeling from the news it's been shortlisted for Best Rock Album at the Grammys – with Haim the very first all-woman band ever in consideration for the award.
"I tune into the lists every year, so it almost feels like The Truman Show when your name is announced," says Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I hallucinating'?"
The weight of the nomination is deeply felt by the sisters.
"We truly set out to make a rock album this time, so it's a major step," says Alana. "Yet we're just appreciative for the women that inspired us."
Personal Turmoil and Candor
The album was born from a period of emotional upheaval. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music explores that odd in-between place where you're glad to be free, but not quite ready to start anew.
The themes detail endings and farewells. The sisters desire love, but not the relationships they've experienced. You can hear them determining in real time who they want to be.
"That's a perfect way of putting it, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a mantra. You have to actively work on ignoring the noise and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Refinement of Music
That developed confidence demanded a new sound – more raw and direct than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that began with the drum sound.
"Drums are 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," quips Alana. "Our motto is, our albums won't commence until we find the perfect drum sound."
Experiences and Collective Humor
The band's openness inspired the album's marketing, where the sisters shared some of their personal horror stories.
One man left Este over a medical consideration. Alana shared a story of flying to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a friendly slap at midnight.
"When you're going through these setbacks, you just feel like there's no hope," explains Alana. "Thus to be able to find humor in those stories and have them tell you more outrageous stories, it's so amazing."
A Confident Legacy
One can easily sense a change in the band. These days, Haim are more assured of their place in the rock pantheon.
They're major draws, with hit albums and an international audience.
Yet Haim will forever be their primary commitment.
"My sisters and I have been making music since I was four," shares Alana. "It's like no alternative that we were destined for. And I'm really thankful we've reached this point and we're still making music."