Everyone Are Welcome to Become the Extra Haim Sister.
"When are you speaking to the band?" an inquiry arrives. "My request was to ask if I can be their fourth member."
There is only one problem: The author likewise longs to be the Haims' fourth member. Furthermore, we are far from alone. A host of celebrated fans have publicly coveted the honor.
It's clear something is happening. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana launched their musical journey performing shows at local delicatessens with their parents. Now they're repeated Grammy Award hopefuls.
Similar to the greatest groups, they're a inseparable gang. Their music videos repeatedly show them marching in sync down the avenues of Los Angeles. During performances, they play with such boundless joy you find yourself thinking, "I wish to be part of that, too."
"How often on tour that fans approached us and said, 'After your show, I picked up a drum kit'," remarks Alana, the youngest of the trio. "It is the ultimate honor. That's an award in itself. We've done our job if we can motivate others to form a group."
"So anyone gets an invitation to be the fourth Haim sister."
Grammy Milestone
The group have called into a break, where they're taking a pause after an major tour in for their new album, I Quit.
They're currently processing the news it's been shortlisted for a top rock honor at the Grammys – with Haim the first all-woman band ever in the running for the prize.
"I tune into the lists every year, so it sort of feels like a surreal movie when your name is announced," says Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this right or am I dreaming'?"
The importance of the honor isn't lost on the band.
"We truly set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a major achievement," says Alana. "But we're just appreciative for the women that inspired us."
Emotional Upheaval and Candor
The record came out of a phase of transition. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music explores that strange transitional period where you're happy to be free, but not quite ready to let go.
The lyrics follow endings and goodbyes. The sisters seek love, but not the relationships they've had. You can hear them figuring out in real time who they are becoming.
"I love way of putting it, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is like a slogan. You have to actively work on ignoring the outside opinions and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."
Development of Style
That developed toughness called for a fresh approach – more raw and powerful than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that was founded on the drums.
"Percussion is such a specific thing, and I care so much about it," she states.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our memoir," jokes Alana. "Our motto is, our albums cannot begin until we find the perfect drum sound."
Stories and Shared Laughter
The trio's honesty fueled the album's marketing, where the sisters revealed some of their dating tales.
One man broke up with Este over a health 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 setbacks, you just feel like there's no hope," notes Alana. "Thus to be able to find humor in those stories and have them tell you more outrageous stories, it's so amazing."
An Assured Legacy
One can easily sense a evolution in the band. Today, Haim are more confident of their place in the industry.
They're top-billed acts, with chart-topping albums and an worldwide audience.
However the sister act will forever be their top focus.
"My sisters and I have been performing since I was little," concludes Alana. "It feels as if no alternative that we were meant to do. And I'm really thankful we've made it and we're still going strong."