All Fans Are Invited to Be the Additional Haim Sisters Bandmate.
"When are you interviewing the Haim sisters?" an inquiry pops up. "I was hoping to ask if I can be their newest bandmate."
There is only a key snag: The sender also wants to be the Haims' newest recruit. And we're in plentiful company. Multiple celebrated supporters have publicly coveted the role.
The evidence suggests a special quality is at play. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana began their path playing gigs at neighborhood delis with their parents. Presently, they stand as multi-time Grammy Award nominees.
Like all the most iconic ensembles, they're a close gang. Their videos frequently depict them walking in harmony down the roads of Los Angeles. In concert, they jam with such unfettered exuberance you find yourself thinking, "I want to be involved in that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that fans told us and said, 'Watching you live, I picked up a guitar'," states Alana, the youngest of the trio. "That's the biggest compliment. That is recognition in itself. We've done our job if we can motivate others to form a group."
"So all is invited to be the honorary Haim sister."
Grammy Nod
The trio are speaking from home, where they're recovering after an major tour in promoting their latest album, I Quit.
They're currently reeling from the news it's been nominated for best rock album at the Grammys – with Haim the very first all-woman band ever in consideration for the trophy.
"I tune into the lists every year, so it almost feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is called," notes Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this right or am I imagining things'?"
The weight of the nomination isn't lost on the sisters.
"We really set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a significant achievement," adds Alana. "Yet we're just thankful for the female artists that came before us."
Emotional Upheaval and Humour
The project was born from a phase of personal change. All three sisters ended up single, and the music explores that strange liminal space where you're happy to be free, but not entirely ready to start anew.
The themes detail departures and farewells. The sisters seek love, but not the specific love they've got. You can hear them figuring out in real time who they aspire to be.
"I adore summary, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is like a slogan. You have to consciously practice ignoring the noise and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."
Development of Sound
That newfound resilience required a different sonic direction – more unpolished and immediate than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that started with the drum sound.
"The drum sound is such a nuanced thing, and I focus so intensely about it," she states.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our book," quips Alana. "I've said it, our albums won't commence until we find the right drum sound."
Stories and Shared Humor
The trio's openness shaped the album's rollout, where the sisters revealed some of their personal tales.
One man 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 friendly slap at midnight.
"Experiencing these breakups, you just feel like there's no light," explains Alana. "Therefore to be able to laugh at those stories and have them tell you wilder stories, it's incredible."
An Assured Legacy
It's not difficult sense a change in the band. Today, Haim are more assured of their standing in the music world.
They're major draws, with chart-topping albums and an global fan base.
But Haim will consistently be their top priority.
"We have been performing since I was little," shares Alana. "It feels as if no other path that we were meant to do. And I'm really thankful we've gotten here and we're still kicking."