🔗 Share this article

"Any idea when you're interviewing the band?" a message reads. "I wanted to ask if I can become their extra sister."

There's just a key snag: I also wants to be the Haims' fourth member. And we're in plentiful company. Multiple famous supporters have also begged for the role.

The evidence suggests an irresistible appeal is at play. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana started their career playing gigs at neighborhood delis with their parents. Today, they are multi-time Grammy Award contenders.

Similar to the greatest ensembles, they're a tight-knit gang. Their visuals frequently depict them marching in sync down the avenues of Los Angeles. On stage, they play with such unfettered happiness you find yourself thinking, "I want to be a piece of that, too."

"How often on tour that fans told us and said, 'After your show, I got a bass'," states Alana, the most junior of the trio. "That is the biggest compliment. That's an award in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can inspire people to start a band."

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

Grammy Milestone

The band are speaking from their homes, where they're recovering after an lengthy tour in for their fourth album, I Quit.

They're right now processing the news it's been nominated for Best Rock Album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the very first all-female band ever in the running for the award.

"I follow the lists every year, so it kind of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is announced," says Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this right or am I hallucinating'?"

The weight of the accolade resonates with the trio.

"We truly set out to make a rock album this time, so it's a significant achievement," adds Alana. "But we're just grateful for the pioneers that paved the way."

Personal Turmoil and Candor

The project emerged from a phase of personal change. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music inhabits that unique transitional period where you're relieved to be free, but not yet ready to let go.

The themes detail endings and farewells. The sisters want love, but not the specific love they've had. You can hear them figuring out in real life who they are becoming.

"I adore description, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a slogan. You have to make an effort in ignoring the criticism and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."

Evolution of Sound

That newfound resilience required a new sound – more organic and direct than anything 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 focus so intensely about it," she says.

"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our book," quips Alana. "I've said it, our albums don't start until we find the ideal drum sound."

Anecdotes and Shared Laughter

The band's openness shaped the album's marketing, where the sisters disclosed some of their romantic tales.

One man broke up with Este over a health concern. Alana recalled a story of flying to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.

"Experiencing these breakups, you just feel like there's no light," explains Alana. "So to be able to find humor in those stories and have them tell you wilder stories, it's therapeutic."

A Secure Path

You can clearly sense a shift in the band. Today, Haim are more certain of their position in the rock pantheon.

They're major draws, with successful albums and an global audience.

However the band will forever be their primary priority.

"Me and my siblings have been performing since I was little," says Alana. "It's like no other path that we were meant to do. And I'm really thankful we've reached this point and we're still kicking."