🔗 Share this article

"When are you chatting with Haim?" a message pops up. "I was hoping to ask if I can be their fourth member."

However, there remains a key snag: The author likewise desires to be the Haims' newest recruit. And we're far from alone. Several famous admirers have publicly petitioned for the position.

The evidence suggests a special quality is happening. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana started their career playing gigs at small eateries with their parents. Now they're repeated Grammy hopefuls.

In the tradition of the best ensembles, they're a tight-knit unit. Their videos often show them striding in unison down the avenues of Los Angeles. On stage, they play with such pure joy you can't help but think, "I'd love to be part of that, too."

"The numerous instances on tour that young girls approached us and said, 'Watching you live, I picked up a drum kit'," states Alana, the youngest of the sisters. "That's the ultimate honour. It is a prize in itself. We have succeeded if we can motivate people to form a group."

"And thus everyone is invited to be the honorary part of the family."

Grammy Nod

The group are speaking from their homes, where they're taking a pause after an major tour in for their latest album, I Quit.

They're presently celebrating the news it's been in the running for a top rock honor at the Grammys – with Haim the pioneering all-woman band ever in contention for the award.

"I follow the announcements every year, so it sort of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is read out," explains Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I dreaming'?"

The importance of the nomination resonates with the sisters.

"We really set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a significant step," says Alana. "Yet we're just appreciative for the women that came before us."

Emotional Upheaval and Candor

The album emerged from a time of personal change. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music inhabits that odd transitional period where you're relieved to be free, but not yet ready to move on.

The lyrics follow departures and partings. The sisters seek love, but not the specific love they've got. You can hear them working out in real life who they aspire to be.

"I love summary, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is like a slogan. You have to consciously practice ignoring the criticism and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."

Evolution of Style

That newfound confidence required a fresh approach – more unpolished and immediate than any of the music the band had done before.

For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that started with the percussion.

"The drum sound is such a nuanced thing, and I focus so intensely about it," she emphasizes.

"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the title of our book," laughs Alana. "Our motto is, our albums don't start until we find the perfect drum sound."

Stories and Shared Laughter

The trio's honesty shaped the album's rollout, where the sisters disclosed some of their dating tales.

One man ended things with Este over a medical consideration. Alana told a story of flying to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture at midnight.

"Experiencing these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's only darkness," explains Alana. "Therefore to be able to find humor in those stories and hear others tell you wilder stories, it's therapeutic."

A Confident Path

One can easily sense a shift in the band. Now, Haim are more assured of their standing in the rock pantheon.

They're festival headliners, with hit albums and an worldwide following.

But the sister act will consistently be their top commitment.

"We have been performing since I was little," concludes Alana. "It's like no alternative that we were destined for. And I'm really thankful we've gotten here and we're still kicking."