Everyone Are Welcome to Be the Extra Haim Bandmate.

The Haim sisters performing together
Haim: "Playing music together is where our true purpose will always be found."

"Do you know when you'll be speaking to the Haim sisters?" a text arrives. "I wanted to ask if I can join as their extra sister."

There's just a single issue: The author likewise wants to be Haim's additional sibling. And we're in plentiful company. Several high-profile fans have publicly begged for the role.

One thing is obvious something is happening. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana started their career playing gigs at local delicatessens with their parents. Presently, they stand as repeated Grammy hopefuls.

Similar to the best bands, they're a close trio. Their music videos often feature them striding in unison down the streets of Los Angeles. During performances, they play with such unfettered happiness you inevitably think, "I want to be involved in that, too."

"How often on tour that audience members approached us and said, 'Seeing you perform, I got a bass'," says Alana, the most junior of the sisters. "That's the greatest honour. It is a prize in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can motivate others to make music."

"So anyone is invited to be the fourth part of the family."

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

Grammy Nod

The trio have called into their homes, where they're resting up after an lengthy tour in promoting their new album, I Quit.

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

"I watch the lists every year, so it almost feels like a surreal movie when your name is called," says Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this right or am I imagining things'?"

The weight of the accolade isn't lost on the band.

"We deliberately set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a huge step," says Alana. "But we're just thankful for the pioneers that paved the way."

Heartbreak and Laughter

The record was born from a time of transition. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music captures that odd in-between place where you're happy to be free, but not quite ready to move on.

The words track breakups and goodbyes. The sisters want love, but not the kind of love they've had. You can hear them working out in the moment who they are becoming.

"That's a perfect way of putting it, yes," responds 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'."

Haim album covers and career milestones
The group topped a prestigious new artist poll in 2013, and have subsequently achieved four successful albums.

Development of Sound

That newfound toughness called for a fresh approach – more raw and powerful than any of the music the band had done before.

For Danielle, who helped produce the album, that began with the drum sound.

"Drums are such a specific thing, and I focus so intensely about it," she says.

"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our biography," jokes Alana. "I always say, our albums won't commence until we find the right drum sound."

Haim in the studio working on music
I Quit hones Haim's characteristic style, mixing organic instrumentation with hip-hop adjacent rhythms and memorable pop hooks.

Stories and Shared Camaraderie

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

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

"Experiencing these setbacks, you just feel like there's no hope," explains Alana. "Thus to be able to share those stories and have them tell you more outrageous stories, it's therapeutic."

Haim on stage during their recent tour
The group concluded a six-month tour, but mention they hope to hit the road in the coming years.

A Confident Future

One can easily sense a evolution in the band. These days, Haim are more confident of their position in the rock pantheon.

They're major draws, with successful albums and an worldwide fan base.

However the sister act will consistently be their number one focus.

"We have been playing music since I was a young child," concludes Alana. "There is no alternative that we were destined for. And I'm really fortunate we've made it and we're still kicking."

Mary Estrada
Mary Estrada

Eleanor Vance is a technology strategist and writer with over a decade of experience helping businesses navigate digital change.