The World is Welcome to Join as the Additional Haim Sister.
"Do you know when you'll be interviewing the band?" a text reads. "I was hoping to ask if I can join as their fourth member."
There's just one problem: The author likewise wants to be Haim's newest recruit. And we're in plentiful company. A host of famous supporters have openly begged for the honor.
The evidence suggests an irresistible appeal is happening. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana started their career playing gigs at small eateries with their parents. Presently, they stand as repeated Grammy contenders.
Like all the greatest groups, they're a close unit. Their music videos often depict them striding in unison down the roads of Los Angeles. During performances, they perform with such boundless joy you inevitably think, "I want to be part of that, too."
"How often on tour that young girls told us and said, 'Watching you live, I got a guitar'," remarks Alana, the youngest of the trio. "It is the ultimate honour. It is a prize in itself. We've done our job if we can motivate people to start a band."
"Therefore all are welcome to be the fourth part of the family."
Historic Milestone
The trio are speaking from their homes, where they're resting up after an major tour in support of their new album, I Quit.
They're right now celebrating the news it's been shortlisted for best rock album at the Grammys – with Haim the first all-female band ever in consideration for the trophy.
"I follow the lists every year, so it kind of feels like The Truman Show when your name is announced," explains Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I imagining things'?"
The significance of the nomination is deeply felt by the band.
"We truly set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a significant step," says Alana. "But we're just thankful for the pioneers that paved the way."
Personal Turmoil and Laughter
The record emerged from a time of emotional upheaval. All three sisters were single, and the music explores that strange liminal space where you're relieved to be free, but not entirely ready to move on.
The lyrics track endings and goodbyes. The sisters want love, but not the kind of love they've got. You can hear them figuring out in the moment who they want to be.
"I adore 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'."
Refinement of Sound
That recent toughness demanded a fresh approach – more unpolished and immediate than anything the band had done before.
For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that started with the drums.
"Percussion is such a specific thing, and I focus so intensely about it," she says.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our memoir," laughs Alana. "I've said it, our albums cannot begin until we find the right drum sound."
Experiences and Collective Camaraderie
The band's openness shaped the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters shared some of their personal tales.
Someone broke up with Este over a medical concern. Alana told a story of travelling to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.
"During these breakups, you just feel like there's only darkness," says Alana. "Thus to be able to share those stories and have them tell you more outrageous stories, it's therapeutic."
An Assured Future
One can easily sense a evolution in the band. These days, Haim are more certain of their place in the rock pantheon.
They're top-billed acts, with successful albums and an international fan base.
But the band will forever be their number one commitment.
"Me and my siblings have been performing since I was little," says Alana. "It feels as if nothing else that we were meant to do. And I'm really fortunate we've reached this point and we're still going strong."