🔗 Share this article

"Do you know when you'll be interviewing Haim?" a text reads. "My request was to ask if I can join as their fourth member."

There's just one problem: The sender also longs to be the Haims' newest recruit. What's more, we are in plentiful company. Several high-profile fans have openly coveted the honor.

One thing is obvious a special quality is going on. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana began their career doing sets at small eateries with their family. Now they're repeated Grammy hopefuls.

In the tradition of the most iconic ensembles, they're a close gang. Their videos frequently depict them walking in unison down the roads of Los Angeles. In concert, they play with such boundless joy you can't help but think, "I want to be part of that, too."

"The amount of times on tour that young girls approached us and said, 'Seeing you perform, I bought a bass'," states Alana, the most junior of the sisters. "It is the greatest honour. That's an award in itself. We have succeeded if we can encourage young girls to start a band."

"Therefore everyone gets an invitation to be the next part of the family."

Historic Milestone

The trio have called into home, where they're recovering after an lengthy tour in support of their new album, I Quit.

They're presently celebrating the news it's been shortlisted for best rock album at the Grammys – with Haim the very first female band ever in the running for the trophy.

"I follow the announcements every year, so it kind of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is announced," says Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this right or am I imagining things'?"

The importance of the honor resonates with the sisters.

"We truly set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a huge milestone," says Alana. "Yet we're just appreciative for the pioneers that inspired us."

Heartbreak and Laughter

The project came out of a period of emotional upheaval. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music captures that strange transitional period where you're happy to be free, but not quite ready to move on.

The lyrics track breakups and partings. The sisters desire love, but not the specific love they've experienced. You can hear them working out in the moment who they aspire to be.

"I love description, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a personal statement. You have to make an effort in blocking the criticism and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."

Evolution of Style

That recent resilience called for a fresh approach – more organic and direct than anything the band had done before.

For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that was founded on the drums.

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

"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the title of our memoir," quips Alana. "Our motto is, our albums cannot begin until we find the perfect drum sound."

Stories and Collective Laughter

The band's openness shaped the album's rollout, where the sisters disclosed some of their personal tales.

One man left Este over a health consideration. Alana shared a story of travelling to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.

"When you're going through these setbacks, you just feel like there's no hope," explains Alana. "Thus to be able to find humor in those stories and hear others tell you wilder stories, it's incredible."

A Confident Legacy

One can easily sense a evolution in the band. Now, Haim are more assured of their standing in the music world.

They're major draws, with chart-topping albums and an international following.

However the sister act will always be their top focus.

"Me and my siblings have been playing music since I was four," says Alana. "It's like no alternative that we were destined for. And I'm really grateful we've gotten here and we're still making music."