The World Are Welcome to Be the Extra Haim Bandmate.
"When are you chatting with the Haim sisters?" an inquiry pops up. "I wanted to ask if I can join as their newest bandmate."
However, there remains a key snag: The author likewise wants to be the Haims' fourth member. And we're not alone. A host of celebrated fans have also petitioned for the position.
The evidence suggests something is at play. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana started their path playing gigs at neighborhood delis with their parents. Today, they are multiple Grammy Award nominees.
In the tradition of the best bands, they're a close unit. Their music videos frequently feature them marching in sync down the roads of Los Angeles. During performances, they perform with such boundless happiness you can't help but think, "I wish to be involved in that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that young girls approached us and said, 'Seeing you perform, I got a bass'," states Alana, the youngest of the sisters. "It is the biggest honour. That is recognition in itself. We've done our job if we can encourage young girls to form a group."
"And thus all is invited to be the next member of Haim."
Historic Recognition
The group are speaking from a break, where they're taking a pause after an lengthy tour in for their latest album, I Quit.
They're presently reeling from the news it's been in the running for best rock album at the Grammys – with Haim the very first all-female band ever in contention for the prize.
"I tune into the nominations every year, so it almost feels like a surreal movie when your name is announced," explains Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I hallucinating'?"
The significance of the accolade is deeply felt by the band.
"We truly set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a major step," continues Alana. "Yet we're just grateful for the women that came before us."
Personal Turmoil and Candor
The record was born from a period of transition. All three sisters were single, and the music captures that strange transitional period where you're relieved to be free, but not quite ready to let go.
The themes track breakups and partings. The sisters desire love, but not the relationships they've experienced. You can hear them determining in real life who they aspire to be.
"That's a perfect way of putting it, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a personal statement. You have to actively work on ignoring the criticism and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."
Refinement of Sound
That developed resilience demanded a new sound – more organic 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.
"Drums are such a detailed thing, and I am so passionate about it," she says.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our memoir," laughs Alana. "Our motto is, our albums won't commence until we find the perfect drum sound."
Anecdotes and Shared Humor
The band's honesty inspired the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters revealed some of their personal horror stories.
One man broke up with Este over a health concern. Alana shared a story of travelling to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture at midnight.
"When you're going through these breakups, you just feel like there's only darkness," says Alana. "Thus to be able to laugh at those stories and hear others tell you more outrageous stories, it's incredible."
An Assured Legacy
It's not difficult sense a shift in the band. These days, Haim are more assured of their standing in the industry.
They're top-billed acts, with successful albums and an global fan base.
However the band will always be their top commitment.
"My sisters and I have been making music since I was a young child," concludes Alana. "There is nothing else that we were meant to do. And I'm really fortunate we've reached this point and we're still making music."