All Fans is Encouraged to Become the Fourth Haim Sisters Member.
"When are you chatting with the band?" a text arrives. "I wanted to ask if I can join as their newest bandmate."
There is only a single issue: The sender also wants to be the Haims' additional sibling. Furthermore, we are not alone. Several high-profile fans have also petitioned for the honor.
The evidence suggests a special quality is happening. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana launched their career playing gigs at neighborhood delis with their parents. Now they're multi-time Grammy nominees.
In the tradition of the most iconic ensembles, they're a close trio. Their visuals frequently depict them walking in sync down the roads of Los Angeles. During performances, they perform with such boundless exuberance you inevitably think, "I wish to be part of that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that fans came up to us and said, 'Seeing you perform, I bought a guitar'," remarks Alana, the youngest of the sisters. "It is the biggest compliment. That's an award in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can inspire people to start a band."
"So anyone gets an invitation to be the honorary Haim sister."
Award Recognition
The group are connecting from a break, where they're taking a pause after an lengthy tour in support of their new album, I Quit.
They're right now reeling from the news it's been in the running for a top rock honor at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the pioneering female band ever in the running for the award.
"I tune into the nominations every year, so it sort of feels like a surreal movie when your name is read out," says Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this correctly or am I hallucinating'?"
The weight of the accolade resonates with the trio.
"We deliberately set out to make a rock album this time, so it's a major step," says Alana. "However we're just thankful for the pioneers that came before us."
Personal Turmoil and Laughter
The project came out of a phase of emotional upheaval. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music inhabits that odd transitional period where you're glad to be free, but not entirely ready to let go.
The lyrics detail breakups and partings. The sisters desire love, but not the relationships they've experienced. You can hear them determining in real life who they aspire to be.
"I love way of putting it, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a mantra. You have to consciously practice ignoring the criticism and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."
Refinement of Music
That newfound toughness called for a fresh approach – more raw and immediate than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that began with the drums.
"Percussion is such a detailed thing, and I focus so intensely about it," she says.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our memoir," jokes Alana. "I always say, our albums don't start until we find the ideal drum sound."
Stories and Shared Humor
The band's candor shaped the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters revealed some of their romantic horror stories.
Someone left Este over a health consideration. Alana shared a story of flying to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture at midnight.
"Experiencing these breakups, 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 so amazing."
A Confident Path
You can clearly sense a evolution in the band. Now, Haim are more assured of their place in the music world.
They're top-billed acts, with hit albums and an worldwide audience.
But Haim will consistently be their number one commitment.
"Me and my siblings have been performing since I was little," says Alana. "There is no other path that we were destined for. And I'm really thankful we've made it and we're still kicking."