🔗 Share this article

"Any idea when you're speaking to Haim?" an inquiry pops up. "I was hoping to ask if I can become their extra sister."

There's just a single issue: The sender also desires to be Haim's additional sibling. Furthermore, we are in plentiful company. Multiple famous fans have publicly coveted the role.

It's clear a special quality is at play. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana began their path playing gigs at neighborhood delis with their parents. Presently, they stand as multiple Grammy hopefuls.

In the tradition of the most iconic ensembles, they're a tight-knit gang. Their music videos frequently feature them walking in unison down the streets of Los Angeles. During performances, they perform with such unfettered exuberance you can't help but think, "I'd love to be a piece of that, too."

"The amount of times on tour that audience members came up to us and said, 'After your show, I picked up a bass'," states Alana, the most junior of the Haim siblings. "That's the greatest honor. That's an award in itself. We have succeeded if we can motivate others to form a group."

"Therefore everyone are welcome to be the honorary Haim sister."

Award Recognition

The band are connecting from home, where they're resting up after an lengthy tour in support of their latest album, I Quit.

They're presently processing the news it's been nominated for Best Rock Album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the pioneering all-female band ever in consideration for the trophy.

"I tune into the announcements every year, so it sort of feels like a surreal movie when your name is announced," says Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this correctly or am I dreaming'?"

The significance of the honor is deeply felt by the sisters.

"We really set out to make a rock album this time, so it's a major milestone," continues Alana. "However we're just grateful for the women that came before us."

Emotional Upheaval and Humour

The album was born from a period of personal change. All three sisters were single, and the music explores that odd liminal space where you're relieved to be free, but not entirely ready to let go.

The lyrics detail endings and goodbyes. The sisters seek love, but not the kind of love they've had. You can hear them determining in real life who they want to be.

"I love way of putting it, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is like a mantra. You have to actively work on shutting out the outside opinions and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."

Refinement of Music

That recent confidence required a new sound – more unpolished and immediate than any of the music the band had done before.

For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that started with the drum sound.

"Drums are such a specific thing, and I care so much about it," she states.

"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the title of our book," laughs Alana. "I've said it, our albums don't start until we find the right drum sound."

Anecdotes and Collective Camaraderie

The band's honesty fueled the album's marketing, where the sisters revealed some of their personal misadventures.

Someone ended things with Este over a medical consideration. 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 breakups, you just feel like there's only darkness," says Alana. "So to be able to share those stories and hear others tell you wilder stories, it's so amazing."

A Secure Path

It's not difficult sense a evolution in the band. Today, Haim are more confident of their place in the industry.

They're top-billed acts, with chart-topping albums and an worldwide fan base.

However the sister act will always be their top commitment.

"Me and my siblings have been playing music since I was little," shares Alana. "It feels as if nothing else that we were destined for. And I'm really thankful we've reached this point and we're still kicking."