The World is Invited to Become the Additional Haim Bandmate.
"When are you speaking to the band?" an inquiry arrives. "I wanted to ask if I can become their newest bandmate."
However, there remains one problem: I also desires to be the Haims' newest recruit. Furthermore, we are far from alone. A host of celebrated fans have openly petitioned for the position.
It's clear something is at play. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana launched their musical journey performing shows at neighborhood delis with their parents. Now they're multi-time Grammy hopefuls.
Similar to the best bands, they're a tight-knit unit. Their videos often show them marching in sync down the avenues of Los Angeles. During performances, they perform with such unfettered happiness you find yourself thinking, "I want to be a piece of that, too."
"The amount of times on tour that fans told us and said, 'Watching you live, I bought a guitar'," states Alana, the youngest of the trio. "That's the greatest honor. That's an award in itself. We have succeeded if we can encourage others to start a band."
"So anyone are welcome to be the honorary Haim sister."
Grammy Milestone
The group are connecting from their homes, where they're recovering after an major tour in support of their latest album, I Quit.
They're presently processing the news it's been in the running for best rock album at the Grammys – with Haim the very first female band ever in contention for the prize.
"I follow the nominations every year, so it sort of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is called," notes Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this right or am I dreaming'?"
The significance of the honor resonates with the band.
"We really set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a major step," continues Alana. "Yet we're just grateful for the pioneers that paved the way."
Heartbreak and Candor
The album came out of a time of personal change. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music captures that odd liminal space where you're happy to be free, but not entirely ready to let go.
The lyrics track departures and partings. The sisters seek love, but not the relationships they've had. You can hear them working out in real life who they want to be.
"I love summary, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is like a personal statement. You have to make an effort in blocking the noise and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."
Development of Style
That recent resilience required a new sound – more organic and powerful than any of the music the band had done before.
For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that was founded on the drums.
"Percussion is such a specific thing, and I focus so intensely about it," she emphasizes.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the title of our memoir," laughs Alana. "I always say, our albums cannot begin until we find the right drum sound."
Experiences and Collective Humor
The trio's honesty shaped the album's marketing, where the sisters shared some of their romantic horror stories.
Someone ended things with Este over a medical concern. Alana recalled a story of flying to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a friendly slap at midnight.
"Experiencing these breakups, you just feel like there's no light," says Alana. "Thus to be able to share those stories and have them tell you wilder stories, it's therapeutic."
A Confident Legacy
You can clearly sense a change in the band. These days, Haim are more certain of their place in the rock pantheon.
They're top-billed acts, with chart-topping albums and an international audience.
However the sister act will always be their primary priority.
"Me and my siblings have been performing since I was little," concludes Alana. "It's like no alternative that we were meant to do. And I'm really thankful we've made it and we're still making music."
