Everyone Are Invited to Become the Additional Haim Sister.
"Do you know when you'll be chatting with the band?" a message arrives. "I was hoping to ask if I can be their newest bandmate."
There's just one problem: The author likewise desires to be Haim's newest recruit. Furthermore, we are not alone. A host of celebrated admirers have also begged for the role.
The evidence suggests an irresistible appeal is going on. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana started their path playing gigs at small eateries with their parents. Now they're multiple Grammy Award nominees.
Similar to the most iconic groups, they're a inseparable unit. Their videos repeatedly depict them marching in unison down the streets of Los Angeles. In concert, they perform with such pure happiness you find yourself thinking, "I'd love to be part of that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that audience members came up to us and said, 'Seeing you perform, I picked up a bass'," says Alana, the youngest of the Haim siblings. "That is the biggest compliment. It is a prize in itself. We've done our job if we can encourage people to make music."
"Therefore everyone gets an invitation to be the fourth part of the family."
Award Recognition
The band are connecting from a break, where they're resting up after an extensive tour in promoting their latest album, I Quit.
They're currently celebrating the news it's been shortlisted for Best Rock Album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the first female band ever in the running for the trophy.
"I tune into the nominations every year, so it sort of feels like a surreal movie when your name is announced," explains Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I dreaming'?"
The significance of the honor resonates with the band.
"We deliberately set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a huge milestone," says Alana. "However we're just grateful for the pioneers that paved the way."
Emotional Upheaval and Humour
The record came out of a phase of transition. All three sisters were single, and the music inhabits that unique liminal space where you're glad to be free, but not yet ready to start anew.
The themes follow breakups and farewells. The sisters want love, but not the specific love they've got. You can hear them figuring out in the moment who they want to be.
"I love description, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a personal statement. You have to consciously practice blocking the criticism and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."
Refinement of Music
That developed resilience required a different sonic direction – more raw and powerful than any of the music the band had done before.
For Danielle, who helped produce the album, that started with the percussion.
"Drums are such a nuanced thing, and I focus so intensely about it," she states.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our biography," quips Alana. "Our motto is, our albums don't start until we find the ideal drum sound."
Experiences and Shared Camaraderie
The trio's honesty shaped the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters revealed some of their personal tales.
A former partner ended things with Este over a health 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 breakups, you just feel like there's no hope," explains Alana. "So to be able to find humor in those stories and have them tell you more outrageous stories, it's therapeutic."
An Assured Legacy
It's not difficult sense a evolution in the band. These days, Haim are more assured of their standing in the industry.
They're festival headliners, with chart-topping albums and an worldwide fan base.
However Haim will always be their primary commitment.
"My sisters and I have been playing music since I was a young child," shares Alana. "It feels as if no alternative that we were meant to do. And I'm really thankful we've reached this point and we're still kicking."
