All Fans Are Welcome to Join as the Extra Haim Member.
"Do you know when you'll be speaking to the Haim sisters?" an inquiry arrives. "My request was to ask if I can become their newest bandmate."
There is only a single issue: The author likewise longs to be the Haims' newest recruit. What's more, we are not alone. A host of high-profile admirers have publicly begged for the honor.
It's clear something is at play. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana started their path performing shows at small eateries with their parents. Today, they are repeated Grammy contenders.
In the tradition of the most iconic bands, they're a inseparable trio. Their videos repeatedly depict them marching in unison down the avenues of Los Angeles. On stage, they perform with such unfettered joy you find yourself thinking, "I'd love to be part of that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that fans told us and said, 'Watching you live, I got a drum kit'," states Alana, the youngest of the Haim siblings. "That is the ultimate honour. That is recognition in itself. We've done our job if we can motivate others to form a group."
"And thus anyone is invited to be the fourth member of Haim."
Historic Nod
The group have called into home, where they're taking a pause after an major tour in promoting their latest album, I Quit.
They're currently processing the news it's been shortlisted for Best Rock Album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the first female band ever in contention for the trophy.
"I tune into the lists every year, so it sort of feels like The Truman Show when your name is called," explains Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this right or am I imagining things'?"
The importance of the honor isn't lost on the trio.
"We really set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a major milestone," continues Alana. "However we're just thankful for the female artists that paved the way."
Personal Turmoil and Laughter
The project came out of a period of emotional upheaval. All three sisters were single, and the music explores that strange transitional period where you're relieved to be free, but not yet ready to start anew.
The words detail breakups and partings. The sisters want love, but not the relationships they've got. You can hear them figuring out in real life who they want to be.
"That's a perfect way of putting it, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is like a slogan. You have to make an effort in blocking the outside opinions and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."
Refinement of Music
That recent toughness demanded a new sound – more unpolished and immediate than any of the music the band had done before.
For Danielle, who helped produce the album, that started with the drum sound.
"The drum sound is such a detailed thing, and I focus so intensely about it," she states.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our book," jokes Alana. "I've said it, our albums cannot begin until we find the ideal drum sound."
Stories and Shared Humor
The band's openness shaped the album's marketing, where the sisters shared some of their personal misadventures.
A former partner ended things with Este over a medical concern. Alana shared a story of flying to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture at midnight.
"During these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's only darkness," explains Alana. "Therefore to be able to share those stories and have them tell you even crazier stories, it's incredible."
A Secure Path
It's not difficult sense a shift in the band. Today, Haim are more assured of their position in the industry.
They're top-billed acts, with successful albums and an worldwide fan base.
However the band will consistently be their number one focus.
"My sisters and I have been performing since I was little," concludes Alana. "There is nothing else that we were supposed to do. And I'm really grateful we've reached this point and we're still going strong."