🔗 Share this article

"When are you chatting with the Haim sisters?" an inquiry pops up. "I was hoping to ask if I can be their fourth member."

There is only one problem: The sender also longs to be Haim's newest recruit. What's more, we are far from alone. A host of high-profile fans have openly petitioned for the honor.

It's clear a special quality is happening. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana launched their path playing gigs at neighborhood delis with their family. Today, they are repeated Grammy contenders.

In the tradition of the greatest groups, they're a tight-knit trio. Their videos frequently show them walking in unison down the avenues of Los Angeles. During performances, they perform with such unfettered joy you can't help but think, "I wish to be part of that, too."

"The amount of times on tour that fans told us and said, 'After your show, I got a guitar'," says Alana, the youngest of the trio. "It is the ultimate honor. That's an award in itself. We've done our job if we can encourage young girls to form a group."

"So everyone is invited to be the next member of Haim."

Grammy Nod

The band have called into their homes, where they're resting up after an major tour in promoting their latest album, I Quit.

They're presently reeling from the news it's been nominated for Best Rock Album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the very first all-female band ever in consideration for the trophy.

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

The significance of the honor is deeply felt by the band.

"We truly set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a huge milestone," continues Alana. "But we're just grateful for the pioneers that came before us."

Emotional Upheaval and Humour

The project came out of a phase of emotional upheaval. All three sisters were single, and the music captures that unique liminal space where you're glad to be free, but not yet ready to move on.

The themes detail departures and goodbyes. The sisters desire love, but not the specific love they've had. You can hear them figuring out in the moment who they are becoming.

"That's a perfect way of putting it, yes," responds 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'."

Refinement of Music

That recent toughness called for a different sonic direction – more unpolished and powerful than any of the music the band had done before.

For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that started with the percussion.

"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 title of our memoir," jokes Alana. "Our motto is, our albums cannot begin until we find the ideal drum sound."

Stories and Collective Humor

The band's honesty inspired the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters shared some of their romantic tales.

One man ended things with Este over a health consideration. Alana told a story of flying to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a friendly slap at midnight.

"During these breakups, you just feel like there's no hope," explains Alana. "Thus to be able to find humor in those stories and hear others tell you even crazier stories, it's incredible."

A Confident Future

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

They're major draws, with successful albums and an international following.

However the band will consistently be their primary priority.

"We have been performing since I was little," concludes Alana. "There is no other path that we were supposed to do. And I'm really grateful we've gotten here and we're still going strong."