Everyone is Invited to Join as the Extra Haim Sisters Bandmate.
"Do you know when you'll be speaking to Haim?" a text pops up. "My request was to ask if I can join as their extra sister."
However, there remains a key snag: The author likewise desires to be Haim's fourth member. Furthermore, we are not alone. Multiple high-profile supporters have openly petitioned for the honor.
The evidence suggests an irresistible appeal is at play. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana launched their musical journey performing shows at local delicatessens with their family. Today, they are multiple Grammy contenders.
In the tradition of the best bands, they're a close gang. Their visuals repeatedly show them marching in sync down the roads of Los Angeles. In concert, they jam with such pure happiness you find yourself thinking, "I want to be involved in that, too."
"How often on tour that audience members told us and said, 'After your show, I picked up a guitar'," says Alana, the youngest of the trio. "That is the biggest compliment. It is a prize in itself. We have succeeded if we can encourage young girls to form a group."
"And thus anyone is invited to be the fourth Haim sister."
Historic Recognition
The band are speaking from a break, where they're taking a pause after an lengthy tour in support of their fourth album, I Quit.
They're right now celebrating the news it's been in the running for a top rock honor at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the pioneering all-woman band ever in the running for the trophy.
"I tune into the announcements every year, so it kind of feels like a surreal movie when your name is called," explains Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this correctly or am I imagining things'?"
The weight of the accolade resonates with the trio.
"We really set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a significant milestone," adds Alana. "However we're just thankful for the female artists that paved the way."
Heartbreak and Candor
The record came out of a time of personal change. All three sisters were single, and the music inhabits that unique transitional period where you're happy to be free, but not entirely ready to let go.
The words detail departures and partings. The sisters seek love, but not the kind of love they've got. You can hear them working out in real time who they want to be.
"That's a perfect description, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is like a slogan. You have to consciously practice blocking the outside opinions and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."
Evolution of Music
That newfound toughness demanded a fresh approach – more organic and direct than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who helped produce the album, that began with the drum sound.
"The drum sound is such a nuanced thing, and I am so passionate about it," she says.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the title of our memoir," jokes Alana. "I've said it, our albums won't commence until we find the perfect drum sound."
Anecdotes and Shared Camaraderie
The trio's openness shaped the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters disclosed some of their romantic horror stories.
A former partner broke up with Este over a health concern. Alana told a story of flying to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.
"When you're going through these breakups, 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 wilder stories, it's so amazing."
An Assured Path
You can clearly sense a shift in the band. Now, Haim are more certain of their position in the music world.
They're major draws, with successful albums and an worldwide audience.
Yet the band will always be their top priority.
"We have been performing since I was little," shares Alana. "There is no alternative that we were supposed to do. And I'm really thankful we've gotten here and we're still kicking."