🔗 Share this article

"Do you know when you'll be interviewing the Haim sisters?" a message arrives. "I was hoping to ask if I can be their newest bandmate."

There is only one problem: The author likewise desires to be the Haims' newest recruit. What's more, we are in plentiful company. A host of famous fans have openly begged for the role.

The evidence suggests a special quality is happening. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana began their musical journey doing sets at local delicatessens with their family. Presently, they stand as multi-time Grammy nominees.

Like all the best ensembles, they're a tight-knit gang. Their videos often feature them marching in unison down the avenues of Los Angeles. During performances, they jam with such boundless joy 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 bought a bass'," says Alana, the youngest of the trio. "It is the ultimate honor. That's an award in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can motivate young girls to make music."

"Therefore all gets an invitation to be the fourth Haim sister."

Grammy Nod

The trio are speaking from a break, where they're recovering after an major tour in support of their new album, I Quit.

They're currently processing the news it's been in the running for Best Rock Album at the Grammys – with Haim the pioneering female band ever in consideration for the trophy.

"I tune into the announcements every year, so it almost feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is called," says Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this right or am I imagining things'?"

The weight of the nomination is deeply felt by the trio.

"We truly set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a major milestone," continues Alana. "Yet we're just thankful for the female artists that inspired us."

Heartbreak and Humour

The album was born from a phase of emotional upheaval. All three sisters ended up single, and the music explores that strange in-between place where you're relieved to be free, but not entirely ready to let go.

The words track breakups and goodbyes. The sisters want love, but not the relationships they've got. You can hear them determining in the moment who they want to be.

"That's a perfect description, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a slogan. You have to make an effort in shutting out the noise and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."

Development of Sound

That developed resilience demanded a fresh approach – more unpolished and immediate than any of the music the band had done before.

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

"Percussion is such a nuanced thing, and I care so much about it," she emphasizes.

"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the title of our book," laughs Alana. "Our motto is, our albums won't commence until we find the right drum sound."

Experiences and Collective Laughter

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

One man ended things with Este over a health concern. Alana told a story of travelling to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture at midnight.

"During these breakups, you just feel like there's no hope," explains Alana. "So to be able to find humor in those stories and hear others tell you more outrageous stories, it's incredible."

A Confident Legacy

It's not difficult sense a evolution in the band. These days, Haim are more certain of their standing in the music world.

They're festival headliners, with hit albums and an international audience.

Yet the sister act will consistently be their primary focus.

"My sisters and I have been performing since I was four," shares Alana. "It's like no other path that we were supposed to do. And I'm really fortunate we've made it and we're still making music."