All Fans Are Welcome to Be the Additional Haim Sister.

The Haim sisters performing together
The Band: "Performing as a unit is where our heart and soul will forever lie."

"When are you speaking to Haim?" an inquiry arrives. "My request was to ask if I can join as their newest bandmate."

There's just one problem: I also longs to be Haim's additional sibling. And we're in plentiful company. Multiple famous admirers have also coveted the role.

The evidence suggests something is at play. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana began their path doing sets at small eateries with their family. Now they're repeated Grammy contenders.

In the tradition of the greatest groups, they're a close unit. Their visuals repeatedly depict them walking in sync down the avenues of Los Angeles. During performances, they jam with such boundless joy you inevitably think, "I'd love to be a piece of that, too."

"How often on tour that audience members came up to us and said, 'After your show, I got a drum kit'," says Alana, the youngest of the sisters. "That's the greatest compliment. That's an award in itself. We've done our job if we can inspire others to form a group."

"And thus everyone is invited to be the fourth Haim sister."

Haim performing at a large festival
The trio's live shows have helped them ascend to headliner status of line-ups around Europe.

Historic Recognition

The trio are connecting from their homes, where they're resting up after an lengthy tour in for their fourth album, I Quit.

They're currently reeling from the news it's been shortlisted for a top rock honor at the Grammys – with Haim the very first female band ever in the running for the prize.

"I watch the announcements every year, so it kind of feels like The Truman Show when your name is read out," notes Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this right or am I hallucinating'?"

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

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

Heartbreak and Humour

The album came out of a phase of emotional upheaval. All three sisters were single, and the music explores that unique in-between place where you're relieved to be free, but not entirely ready to move on.

The themes detail breakups and goodbyes. The sisters desire love, but not the relationships they've got. You can hear them figuring out in real time who they aspire to be.

"I adore summary, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a mantra. You have to consciously practice shutting out the noise and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."

Haim album covers and career milestones
The band topped a prestigious new artist list in 2013, and have later secured several successful albums.

Refinement of Style

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

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

"Drums are such a nuanced thing, and I am so passionate about it," she emphasizes.

"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our book," jokes Alana. "I've said it, our albums won't commence until we find the ideal drum sound."

Haim in the studio working on music
I Quit refines the band's trademark blend, combining guitar-driven rock with rhythmic rhythms and catchy pop tunes.

Experiences and Shared Humor

The trio's openness inspired the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters shared some of their dating misadventures.

Someone broke up with Este over a health consideration. Alana shared a story of flying to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a friendly slap at midnight.

"When you're going through these breakups, you just feel like there's no light," notes Alana. "So to be able to laugh at those stories and have them tell you more outrageous stories, it's therapeutic."

Haim on stage during their recent tour
The band just finished a six-month tour, but say they plan to hit the road in the coming years.

A Secure Legacy

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

They're major draws, with successful albums and an international following.

Yet Haim will forever be their number one priority.

"My sisters and I have been performing since I was little," says Alana. "It feels as if no alternative that we were destined for. And I'm really thankful we've made it and we're still making music."

Richard Li
Richard Li

Lena is a freelance writer and design enthusiast based in Amsterdam, exploring the intersection of art and technology.