All Fans is Invited to Become the Fourth Haim Sisters Bandmate.
"Any idea when you're chatting with Haim?" a message pops up. "I wanted to ask if I can join as their extra sister."
There's just a key snag: The sender also wants to be Haim's newest recruit. Furthermore, we are far from alone. A host of celebrated fans have publicly coveted the honor.
The evidence suggests a special quality is at play. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana launched their musical journey performing shows at local delicatessens with their parents. Today, they are multi-time Grammy hopefuls.
Like all the best groups, they're a close trio. Their visuals frequently show them walking in harmony down the streets of Los Angeles. In concert, they jam with such boundless exuberance you find yourself thinking, "I wish to be a piece of that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that audience members came up to us and said, 'Seeing you perform, I picked up a guitar'," says Alana, the most junior of the trio. "It is the ultimate honor. That's an award in itself. We've done our job if we can motivate people to make music."
"So all are welcome to be the next member of Haim."
Grammy Recognition
The band are speaking from their homes, where they're taking a pause after an extensive tour in support of their latest album, I Quit.
They're presently reeling from the news it's been in the running for a top rock honor at the Grammys – with Haim the very first all-woman band ever in consideration for the prize.
"I follow the announcements every year, so it almost feels like a surreal movie when your name is read out," explains Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this correctly or am I dreaming'?"
The significance of the honor resonates with the band.
"We deliberately set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a huge step," adds Alana. "But we're just appreciative for the female artists that inspired us."
Personal Turmoil and Humour
The album came out of a time of emotional upheaval. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music explores that strange liminal space where you're happy to be free, but not yet ready to let go.
The words follow endings and goodbyes. The sisters want 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 love summary, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is like a mantra. You have to actively work on ignoring the noise and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Development of Sound
That newfound resilience called for a different sonic direction – more unpolished and immediate than any of the music the band had done before.
For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that began with the percussion.
"The drum sound is such a detailed thing, and I am so passionate about it," she states.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the title of our book," quips Alana. "I've said it, our albums don't start until we find the ideal drum sound."
Experiences and Collective Camaraderie
The trio's honesty fueled the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters disclosed some of their dating horror stories.
Someone broke up with Este over a medical concern. Alana told a story of travelling to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.
"Experiencing these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's only darkness," says Alana. "So to be able to find humor in those stories and hear others tell you even crazier stories, it's therapeutic."
A Confident Path
One can easily sense a evolution in the band. These days, Haim are more certain of their position in the rock pantheon.
They're top-billed acts, with chart-topping albums and an global audience.
But Haim will consistently be their top commitment.
"My sisters and I have been performing since I was four," concludes Alana. "It's like nothing else that we were supposed to do. And I'm really grateful we've reached this point and we're still kicking."