All Fans is Welcome to Become the Fourth Haim Sisters Member.
"Do you know when you'll be interviewing the band?" a message arrives. "I wanted to ask if I can become their newest bandmate."
However, there remains a single issue: The author likewise longs to be the Haims' newest recruit. What's more, we are far from alone. Several celebrated supporters have also coveted the position.
It's clear a special quality is going on. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana began their musical journey doing sets at local delicatessens with their parents. Today, they are repeated Grammy nominees.
Similar to the greatest ensembles, they're a tight-knit trio. Their videos frequently show them marching in harmony down the roads of Los Angeles. In concert, they perform with such boundless exuberance you inevitably think, "I want to be a piece of that, too."
"How often on tour that young girls approached us and said, 'Watching you live, I picked up a guitar'," remarks Alana, the youngest of the sisters. "It is the greatest honor. That's an award in itself. We've done our job if we can encourage young girls to form a group."
"Therefore all gets an invitation to be the fourth member of Haim."
Historic Milestone
The trio are connecting from their homes, where they're taking a pause after an lengthy tour in support of their fourth album, I Quit.
They're right now reeling from the news it's been shortlisted for Best Rock Album at the Grammys – with Haim the first all-woman band ever in contention for the trophy.
"I follow the lists every year, so it sort of feels like The Truman Show when your name is announced," notes Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this right or am I dreaming'?"
The importance of the accolade isn't lost on the band.
"We really set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a major milestone," adds Alana. "However we're just appreciative for the pioneers that came before us."
Personal Turmoil and Candor
The project came out of a phase of transition. All three sisters ended up single, and the music captures that strange transitional period where you're glad to be free, but not yet ready to let go.
The lyrics track endings and goodbyes. The sisters desire love, but not the kind of love they've had. You can hear them determining in real time who they are becoming.
"I love summary, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a personal statement. You have to actively work on ignoring the criticism and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."
Evolution of Style
That recent confidence demanded 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 started with the drum sound.
"Drums are such a detailed thing, and I care so much about it," she states.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our biography," jokes Alana. "I've said it, our albums cannot begin until we find the ideal drum sound."
Anecdotes and Shared Camaraderie
The band's openness shaped the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters revealed some of their romantic horror stories.
Someone left Este over a medical consideration. Alana told a story of travelling to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.
"When you're going through these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's no light," explains Alana. "Therefore to be able to share those stories and have them tell you more outrageous stories, it's therapeutic."
A Confident Future
You can clearly sense a change in the band. Today, Haim are more assured of their place in the music world.
They're major draws, with successful albums and an worldwide fan base.
However the band will consistently be their top commitment.
"We have been playing music since I was four," says Alana. "There is no alternative that we were supposed to do. And I'm really grateful we've made it and we're still going strong."