Everyone is Welcome to Join as the Additional Haim Bandmate.
"When are you speaking to Haim?" an inquiry reads. "My request was to ask if I can be their extra sister."
There is only a single issue: I also longs to be Haim's additional sibling. What's more, we are far from alone. Several high-profile admirers have publicly petitioned for the position.
It's clear something is going on. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana launched their path doing sets at neighborhood delis with their parents. Now they're multiple Grammy contenders.
Like all the greatest groups, they're a tight-knit gang. Their visuals repeatedly depict them striding in unison down the avenues of Los Angeles. During performances, they jam with such pure exuberance you inevitably think, "I wish to be part of that, too."
"The amount of times on tour that fans came up to us and said, 'Seeing you perform, I bought a bass'," says Alana, the youngest of the Haim siblings. "It is the greatest compliment. That's an award in itself. We have succeeded if we can encourage others to form a group."
"Therefore anyone gets an invitation to be the honorary part of the family."
Historic Nod
The trio are connecting from a break, where they're recovering after an extensive tour in for their latest album, I Quit.
They're right now reeling from the news it's been in the running for a top rock honor at the Grammys – with Haim the first all-female band ever in the running for the prize.
"I follow the lists every year, so it kind of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is read out," notes Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this right or am I imagining things'?"
The significance of the nomination isn't lost on the band.
"We really set out to make a rock album this time, so it's a major milestone," says Alana. "However we're just grateful for the pioneers that paved the way."
Personal Turmoil and Candor
The project emerged from a time of emotional upheaval. All three sisters ended up single, and the music explores that odd in-between place where you're happy to be free, but not entirely ready to start anew.
The words track breakups and goodbyes. The sisters want love, but not the kind of love they've experienced. You can hear them figuring out in real life who they are becoming.
"That's a perfect summary, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a slogan. You have to actively work on shutting out the noise and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."
Development of Sound
That newfound resilience demanded a fresh approach – more organic and direct than any of the music the band had done before.
For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that began with the drum sound.
"Percussion is such a nuanced thing, and I am so passionate about it," she emphasizes.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the title of our memoir," quips Alana. "Our motto is, our albums won't commence until we find the ideal drum sound."
Anecdotes and Collective Humor
The band's openness shaped the album's rollout, where the sisters revealed some of their personal horror stories.
One man ended things with Este over a medical concern. Alana recalled a story of travelling to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.
"When you're going through these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's no light," says Alana. "Therefore to be able to laugh at those stories and hear others tell you more outrageous stories, it's incredible."
A Secure Path
You can clearly sense a change in the band. Today, Haim are more assured of their position in the rock pantheon.
They're top-billed acts, with successful albums and an global audience.
But the sister act will always be their number one focus.
"Me and my siblings have been playing music since I was little," says Alana. "There is no alternative that we were supposed to do. And I'm really thankful we've reached this point and we're still making music."