All Fans is Welcome to Be the Fourth Haim Sister.

The Haim sisters performing together
The Band: "Being in a rock band is where our true purpose will always lie."

"When are you chatting with the Haim sisters?" a message arrives. "I was hoping to ask if I can be their newest bandmate."

There's just one problem: The sender also desires to be Haim's fourth member. Furthermore, we are not alone. Multiple celebrated supporters have openly begged for the position.

It's clear a special quality is happening. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana started their path doing sets at neighborhood delis with their family. Today, they are repeated Grammy Award nominees.

Similar to the greatest groups, they're a tight-knit trio. Their videos repeatedly show them striding in unison down the streets of Los Angeles. During performances, they play with such boundless joy you find yourself thinking, "I'd love to be a piece of that, too."

"The numerous instances on tour that young girls told us and said, 'Seeing you perform, I bought a drum kit'," says Alana, the youngest of the Haim siblings. "It is the biggest compliment. It is a prize in itself. We've done our job if we can encourage people to start a band."

"So anyone are welcome to be the next Haim sister."

Haim performing at a large festival
The trio's gigs have helped them become staples of line-ups across the world.

Grammy Recognition

The group are speaking from home, where they're recovering after an lengthy tour in for their new album, I Quit.

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

"I follow the nominations every year, so it kind of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is announced," notes Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this right or am I dreaming'?"

The importance of the accolade isn't lost on the sisters.

"We really set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a major achievement," continues Alana. "But we're just grateful for the female artists that paved the way."

Heartbreak and Humour

The album emerged from a period of personal change. All three sisters ended up single, and the music explores that unique liminal space where you're relieved to be free, but not quite ready to start anew.

The lyrics detail breakups and goodbyes. The sisters want love, but not the kind of love they've got. You can hear them working out in the moment who they aspire to be.

"That's a perfect description, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a mantra. You have to make an effort in shutting out the noise and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."

Haim album covers and career milestones
The group claimed victory in a major new artist survey in 2013, and have since then secured four successful albums.

Evolution of Style

That developed resilience demanded a new sound – more unpolished and direct than any of the music the band had done before.

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

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

"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our memoir," quips Alana. "I've said it, our albums cannot begin until we find the right drum sound."

Haim in the studio working on music
I Quit refines Haim's trademark blend, combining organic instrumentation with rhythmic beats and hooky pop melodies.

Stories and Collective Laughter

The band's candor shaped the album's rollout, where the sisters revealed some of their dating misadventures.

One man ended things with Este over a health consideration. Alana told a story of travelling to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.

"Experiencing these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's no hope," notes Alana. "Thus to be able to find humor in those stories and have them tell you even crazier stories, it's so amazing."

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

A Secure Legacy

It's not difficult sense a shift in the band. Now, Haim are more confident of their position in the industry.

They're top-billed acts, with hit albums and an worldwide audience.

But the band will always be their primary priority.

"Me and my siblings have been making music since I was four," says Alana. "It's like nothing else that we were supposed to do. And I'm really grateful we've gotten here and we're still going strong."

Michelle Friedman
Michelle Friedman

Lena Visser is a minimalist lifestyle coach and writer passionate about sustainable living and mindful consumption.