The World Are Encouraged to Join as the Fourth Haim Member.

The Haim sisters performing together
Haim: "Being in a rock band is where our passion will always be found."

"Any idea when you're speaking to the band?" a text reads. "I was hoping to ask if I can be their extra sister."

However, there remains one problem: I also desires to be Haim's additional sibling. What's more, we are in plentiful company. Several celebrated admirers have openly coveted the position.

It's clear an irresistible appeal is going on. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana started their path performing shows at neighborhood delis with their family. Today, they are multiple Grammy Award contenders.

Like all the best bands, they're a close gang. Their music videos often depict them striding in unison down the avenues of Los Angeles. During performances, they perform with such pure happiness you find yourself thinking, "I'd love to be a piece of that, too."

"The amount of times on tour that audience members told us and said, 'Watching you live, I bought a bass'," remarks Alana, the most junior of the sisters. "That's the greatest compliment. That's an award in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can encourage others to form a group."

"Therefore everyone gets an invitation to be the honorary Haim sister."

Haim performing at a large festival
The trio's gigs have propelled them become staples of festival bills throughout the world.

Grammy Milestone

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

They're presently celebrating the news it's been in the running for Best Rock Album at the Grammys – with Haim the first all-female band ever in the running for the trophy.

"I watch the nominations every year, so it almost feels like The Truman Show when your name is read out," explains Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I dreaming'?"

The importance of the accolade is deeply felt by the trio.

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

Emotional Upheaval and Laughter

The album came out of a phase of personal change. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music explores that strange in-between place where you're glad to be free, but not entirely ready to let go.

The words detail departures and partings. The sisters desire love, but not the kind of love they've had. You can hear them determining in real life who they want to be.

"I adore summary, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a personal statement. You have to actively work on blocking the noise and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."

Haim album covers and career milestones
The band won a prestigious breakthrough poll in 2013, and have subsequently secured four top 10 albums.

Evolution of Style

That newfound resilience required a different sonic direction – more organic and powerful than anything the band had done before.

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

"The drum sound is such a detailed thing, and I am so passionate about it," she says.

"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our book," laughs Alana. "I've said it, our albums cannot begin until we find the right drum sound."

Haim in the studio working on music
I Quit hones the band's signature sound, mixing organic instrumentation with hip-hop adjacent rhythms and hooky pop melodies.

Stories and Collective Humor

The band's openness inspired the album's marketing, where the sisters shared some of their romantic tales.

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

"During these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's no hope," notes Alana. "Therefore to be able to find humor in those stories and have them tell you more outrageous stories, it's so amazing."

Haim on stage during their recent tour
The group just finished a major tour, but state they hope to perform live in the coming years.

A Secure Path

You can clearly sense a shift in the band. Today, Haim are more certain of their position in the industry.

They're festival headliners, with successful albums and an international following.

Yet the band will consistently be their top priority.

"We have been making music since I was a young child," shares Alana. "It feels as if no other path that we were meant to do. And I'm really fortunate we've made it and we're still going strong."

Shannon Collins
Shannon Collins

A seasoned journalist with a decade of experience in European politics and media studies.