All Fans Are Encouraged to Be the Additional Haim Sisters Member.
"When are you chatting with the Haim sisters?" an inquiry arrives. "My request was to ask if I can become their fourth member."
There is only one problem: The author likewise desires to be Haim's additional sibling. What's more, we are far from alone. Multiple celebrated supporters have openly begged for the role.
One thing is obvious an irresistible appeal is going on. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana began their career doing sets at local delicatessens with their family. Presently, they stand as repeated Grammy nominees.
Similar to the best ensembles, they're a close unit. Their visuals repeatedly feature them striding in sync down the avenues of Los Angeles. During performances, they play with such unfettered exuberance you find yourself thinking, "I want to be a piece of that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that fans came up to us and said, 'Seeing you perform, I bought a bass'," remarks Alana, the most junior of the sisters. "It is the ultimate honor. It is a prize in itself. We've done our job if we can encourage people to make music."
"And thus anyone are welcome to be the next Haim sister."
Award Nod
The trio are connecting from their homes, where they're resting up after an extensive tour in support of their latest album, I Quit.
They're presently celebrating the news it's been shortlisted for Best Rock Album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the pioneering female band ever in contention for the trophy.
"I watch the announcements every year, so it almost feels like a surreal movie when your name is called," explains Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this correctly or am I imagining things'?"
The significance of the accolade isn't lost on the trio.
"We deliberately set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a huge milestone," says Alana. "However we're just appreciative for the female artists that came before us."
Emotional Upheaval and Humour
The project was born from a time of transition. All three sisters ended up single, and the music inhabits that odd transitional period where you're happy to be free, but not yet ready to let go.
The themes follow endings and goodbyes. The sisters desire love, but not the relationships they've got. You can hear them working out in real life who they aspire to be.
"I adore summary, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a personal statement. You have to consciously practice ignoring the outside opinions and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."
Refinement of Style
That developed confidence demanded a new sound – more unpolished and direct than any of the music the band had done before.
For Danielle, who helped produce the album, that began with the drum sound.
"Percussion is such a nuanced thing, and I care so much about it," she says.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our book," laughs Alana. "Our motto is, our albums won't commence until we find the right drum sound."
Anecdotes and Collective Humor
The band's honesty fueled the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters disclosed some of their personal tales.
Someone ended things with Este over a health concern. Alana recalled a story of travelling to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture 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 even crazier stories, it's incredible."
A Secure Path
You can clearly sense a shift in the band. Today, Haim are more confident of their place in the rock pantheon.
They're top-billed acts, with chart-topping albums and an global fan base.
But Haim will consistently be their primary focus.
"My sisters and I have been performing since I was four," concludes Alana. "There is no alternative that we were meant to do. And I'm really grateful we've made it and we're still making music."