The World Are Encouraged to Become the Extra Haim Sisters Member.
"Do you know when you'll be speaking to the band?" a text reads. "I wanted to ask if I can become their extra sister."
There is only a key snag: The author likewise wants to be Haim's additional sibling. What's more, we are not alone. A host of celebrated admirers have also petitioned for the honor.
The evidence suggests an irresistible appeal is at play. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana launched their career doing sets at local delicatessens with their family. Presently, they stand as multi-time Grammy hopefuls.
Similar to the most iconic ensembles, they're a inseparable unit. Their music videos frequently feature them striding in sync down the streets of Los Angeles. During performances, they perform with such boundless happiness you inevitably think, "I want to be a piece of that, too."
"How often on tour that young girls told us and said, 'Watching you live, I picked up a guitar'," states Alana, the most junior of the sisters. "That is the greatest honor. That is recognition in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can inspire young girls to form a group."
"Therefore all gets an invitation to be the next Haim sister."
Historic Recognition
The group have called into their homes, where they're taking a pause after an major tour in promoting their new album, I Quit.
They're right now processing the news it's been shortlisted for Best Rock Album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the first all-female band ever in contention for the prize.
"I follow the lists every year, so it kind of feels like a surreal movie when your name is announced," explains Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this correctly or am I hallucinating'?"
The significance of the nomination resonates with the sisters.
"We deliberately set out to make a rock album this time, so it's a huge milestone," continues Alana. "But we're just appreciative for the pioneers that inspired us."
Emotional Upheaval and Humour
The project came out of a time of personal change. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music captures that odd liminal space where you're relieved to be free, but not quite ready to move on.
The words detail breakups and goodbyes. The sisters seek love, but not the relationships they've experienced. You can hear them working out in the moment who they aspire to be.
"I love way of putting it, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a slogan. You have to actively work on shutting out the criticism and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Refinement of Style
That recent resilience required a fresh approach – more raw and powerful than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that began with the drum sound.
"The drum sound is such a nuanced thing, and I focus so intensely about it," she says.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our book," laughs Alana. "I've said it, our albums don't start until we find the right drum sound."
Anecdotes and Collective Laughter
The band's honesty inspired the album's marketing, where the sisters revealed some of their personal tales.
One man left Este over a health consideration. Alana recalled a story of flying to celebrate 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 only darkness," says Alana. "So to be able to share those stories and hear others tell you more outrageous stories, it's so amazing."
An Assured Legacy
One can easily sense a change in the band. Today, Haim are more assured of their position in the industry.
They're major draws, with successful albums and an worldwide following.
But the band will always be their primary focus.
"Me and my siblings have been making music since I was a young child," concludes Alana. "There is no alternative that we were destined for. And I'm really thankful we've gotten here and we're still making music."