All Fans Are Encouraged to Join as the Fourth Haim Member.
"When are you interviewing the band?" a text arrives. "I was hoping to ask if I can become their fourth member."
There is only a single issue: I also longs to be the Haims' fourth member. What's more, we are far from alone. A host of famous admirers have publicly petitioned for the role.
One thing is obvious something is at play. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana began their path doing sets at local delicatessens with their family. Now they're repeated Grammy nominees.
In the tradition of the most iconic bands, they're a inseparable unit. Their music videos often feature them walking in unison down the roads of Los Angeles. During performances, they play with such pure joy you find yourself thinking, "I want to be involved in that, too."
"How often on tour that young girls told us and said, 'Watching you live, I bought a bass'," says Alana, the youngest of the Haim siblings. "That is the greatest compliment. That is recognition in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can inspire others to make music."
"Therefore everyone gets an invitation to be the next part of the family."
Award Recognition
The band have called into a break, where they're resting up after an major tour in support of their latest album, I Quit.
They're currently processing the news it's been nominated for best rock album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the pioneering all-female band ever in the running for the award.
"I follow the nominations every year, so it sort of feels like The Truman Show when your name is called," notes Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this right or am I dreaming'?"
The weight of the nomination isn't lost on the sisters.
"We really set out to make a rock album this time, so it's a major milestone," adds Alana. "Yet we're just thankful for the women that inspired us."
Personal Turmoil and Laughter
The record came out of a time of emotional upheaval. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music captures that odd liminal space where you're glad to be free, but not quite ready to move on.
The lyrics detail breakups and goodbyes. The sisters desire love, but not the kind of love they've had. You can hear them working out in real life who they aspire to be.
"I adore way of putting it, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a mantra. You have to consciously practice blocking the outside opinions and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."
Refinement of Music
That newfound resilience demanded a new sound – more unpolished and immediate than any of the music the band had done before.
For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that started with the drums.
"The drum sound is such a detailed thing, and I focus so intensely about it," she states.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our biography," jokes Alana. "Our motto is, our albums won't commence until we find the perfect drum sound."
Anecdotes and Shared Laughter
The trio's candor inspired the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters shared some of their romantic horror stories.
One man broke up with Este over a health concern. Alana recalled a story of travelling to celebrate 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 find humor in those stories and hear others tell you more outrageous stories, it's therapeutic."
A Secure Future
It's not difficult sense a evolution in the band. Now, Haim are more assured of their position in the music world.
They're major draws, with successful albums and an worldwide following.
But Haim will consistently be their number one focus.
"My sisters and I have been making music since I was four," says Alana. "It's like no other path that we were meant to do. And I'm really grateful we've reached this point and we're still kicking."