🔗 Share this article

"When are you interviewing the Haim sisters?" a message reads. "My request was to ask if I can become their newest bandmate."

There's just a key snag: I also longs to be Haim's fourth member. And we're not alone. A host of famous fans have publicly begged for the role.

The evidence suggests a special quality is going on. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana began their career playing gigs at neighborhood delis with their family. Presently, they stand as multiple Grammy Award hopefuls.

Similar to the most iconic groups, they're a close trio. Their music videos repeatedly feature them walking in unison down the streets of Los Angeles. In concert, they jam with such pure exuberance you inevitably think, "I'd love to be part of that, too."

"How often on tour that fans came up to us and said, 'After your show, I got a bass'," states Alana, the most junior of the sisters. "It is the biggest compliment. That's an award in itself. We've done our job if we can motivate others to make music."

"So anyone gets an invitation to be the fourth Haim sister."

Grammy Milestone

The group have called into a break, where they're recovering after an major 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 Grammy Awards – with Haim the very first female band ever in the running for the trophy.

"I watch the lists every year, so it kind of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is announced," notes Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I dreaming'?"

The weight of the honor resonates with the trio.

"We truly set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a major step," adds Alana. "But we're just thankful for the pioneers that came before us."

Heartbreak and Laughter

The record emerged from a phase of emotional upheaval. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music explores that strange transitional period where you're happy to be free, but not entirely ready to move on.

The lyrics follow breakups and goodbyes. The sisters want love, but not the kind of love they've got. You can hear them figuring out in real time who they want to be.

"I love way of putting it, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a mantra. You have to actively work on ignoring the outside opinions and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."

Refinement of Music

That developed confidence called for a different sonic direction – more raw and direct than anything the band had done before.

For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that was founded on the drum sound.

"Percussion is such a nuanced thing, and I am so passionate about it," she says.

"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our memoir," quips Alana. "I always say, our albums don't start until we find the perfect drum sound."

Anecdotes and Shared Laughter

The band's candor shaped the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters disclosed some of their personal misadventures.

One man broke up with Este over a health concern. Alana told a story of travelling to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture at midnight.

"Experiencing these breakups, you just feel like there's no light," explains Alana. "So to be able to laugh at those stories and have them tell you even crazier stories, it's incredible."

A Secure Path

It's not difficult sense a change in the band. Today, Haim are more certain of their standing in the music world.

They're top-billed acts, with hit albums and an worldwide following.

But the sister act will forever be their number one focus.

"Me and my siblings have been making music since I was four," shares Alana. "There is nothing else that we were supposed to do. And I'm really grateful we've reached this point and we're still making music."