🔗 Share this article

"When are you chatting with the band?" a message reads. "I was hoping to ask if I can be their newest bandmate."

There is only a key snag: The sender also desires to be Haim's additional sibling. And we're in plentiful company. Several famous admirers have openly coveted the position.

One thing is obvious an irresistible appeal is at play. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana started their musical journey playing gigs at local delicatessens with their family. Presently, they stand as multi-time Grammy Award nominees.

In the tradition of the best groups, they're a tight-knit trio. Their music videos often depict them marching in unison down the roads of Los Angeles. During performances, they jam with such pure happiness you can't help but think, "I'd love to be involved in that, too."

"The numerous instances on tour that fans told us and said, 'After your show, I picked up a guitar'," says Alana, the youngest of the sisters. "That is the ultimate honour. That is recognition in itself. We've done our job if we can inspire people to start a band."

"Therefore anyone is invited to be the honorary member of Haim."

Historic Recognition

The trio are connecting from their homes, where they're resting up after an lengthy tour in promoting their fourth album, I Quit.

They're presently processing the news it's been shortlisted for Best Rock Album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the first female band ever in consideration for the award.

"I watch the announcements every year, so it sort of feels like a surreal movie when your name is read out," notes Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I dreaming'?"

The weight of the accolade resonates with the trio.

"We really set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a huge step," continues Alana. "But we're just thankful for the pioneers that came before us."

Emotional Upheaval and Candor

The record came out of a phase of personal change. All three sisters were single, and the music inhabits that strange in-between place where you're glad to be free, but not quite ready to move on.

The themes track endings and partings. The sisters want love, but not the specific love they've got. You can hear them determining in real time who they want to be.

"I love summary, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is like a slogan. You have to consciously practice ignoring the criticism and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."

Evolution of Sound

That developed confidence called for a different sonic direction – more organic and immediate than any of the music the band had done before.

For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that was founded on the percussion.

"Drums are such a specific thing, and I focus so intensely about it," she says.

"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our book," jokes Alana. "Our motto is, our albums don't start until we find the ideal drum sound."

Stories and Shared Laughter

The trio's candor inspired the album's rollout, where the sisters shared some of their romantic misadventures.

A former partner broke up with Este over a medical consideration. Alana shared a story of travelling 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 light," explains Alana. "Therefore to be able to share those stories and hear others tell you more outrageous stories, it's therapeutic."

A Confident Path

You can clearly sense a change in the band. Now, Haim are more certain of their standing in the music world.

They're top-billed acts, with hit albums and an international fan base.

Yet the band will consistently be their top priority.

"My sisters and I have been performing since I was little," concludes Alana. "It's like no alternative that we were meant to do. And I'm really fortunate we've gotten here and we're still going strong."