Everyone Are Invited to Become the Additional Haim Member.
"Any idea when you're chatting with the band?" a text reads. "I wanted to ask if I can be their fourth member."
There is only a single issue: The author likewise longs to be Haim's newest recruit. What's more, we are not alone. A host of high-profile supporters have openly coveted the position.
It's clear something is at play. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana started their career playing gigs at small eateries with their family. Presently, they stand as multi-time Grammy Award contenders.
Like all the best groups, they're a inseparable gang. Their music videos often show them marching in harmony down the streets of Los Angeles. In concert, they perform with such boundless happiness you inevitably think, "I want to be part of that, too."
"The amount of times on tour that fans approached us and said, 'After your show, I got a drum kit'," remarks Alana, the youngest of the Haim siblings. "That's the ultimate honour. It is a prize in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can inspire people to form a group."
"Therefore all is invited to be the honorary member of Haim."
Historic Nod
The group are speaking from a break, where they're recovering after an lengthy tour in support of their new album, I Quit.
They're right now processing the news it's been in the running for best rock album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the pioneering all-woman band ever in consideration for the trophy.
"I watch the lists every year, so it sort of feels like The Truman Show when your name is announced," says Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this correctly or am I imagining things'?"
The weight of the honor is deeply felt by the band.
"We deliberately set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a major milestone," adds Alana. "However we're just appreciative for the pioneers that paved the way."
Heartbreak and Laughter
The album came out of a period of personal change. All three sisters ended up single, and the music explores that odd liminal space where you're glad to be free, but not entirely ready to move on.
The themes detail breakups and farewells. The sisters want love, but not the specific love they've got. You can hear them working out in real time who they want to be.
"I love description, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a mantra. You have to consciously practice ignoring the criticism and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Evolution of Sound
That developed confidence demanded a new sound – more unpolished and direct than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who helped produce the album, that started with the drums.
"Percussion is such a nuanced thing, and I am so passionate about it," she emphasizes.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our book," jokes Alana. "Our motto is, our albums won't commence until we find the right drum sound."
Anecdotes and Shared Laughter
The band's candor fueled the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters revealed some of their personal horror stories.
A former partner broke up with Este over a medical consideration. Alana recalled a story of flying to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture at midnight.
"Experiencing these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's no hope," says Alana. "Thus to be able to laugh at those stories and hear others tell you wilder stories, it's incredible."
A Secure Legacy
It's not difficult sense a change in the band. Today, Haim are more certain of their standing in the industry.
They're major draws, with successful albums and an worldwide following.
But the band will consistently be their top priority.
"Me and my siblings have been playing music since I was four," says Alana. "It's like nothing else that we were destined for. And I'm really thankful we've made it and we're still kicking."