The World is Invited to Join as the Fourth Haim Sisters Sister.
"Do you know when you'll be chatting with the band?" a text pops up. "My request was to ask if I can join as their extra sister."
However, there remains a key snag: The author likewise desires to be the Haims' fourth member. Furthermore, we are far from alone. A host of high-profile fans have also coveted the role.
The evidence suggests something is at play. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana started their path playing gigs at local delicatessens with their family. Now they're multi-time Grammy Award nominees.
In the tradition of the most iconic bands, they're a tight-knit gang. Their visuals frequently feature them striding in sync down the avenues of Los Angeles. On stage, they perform with such unfettered joy you can't help but think, "I'd love to be involved in that, too."
"The numerous instances on tour that fans approached us and said, 'Watching you live, I got a drum kit'," states Alana, the youngest of the Haim siblings. "It is the ultimate honour. That's an award in itself. We've done our job if we can inspire others to form a group."
"Therefore everyone are welcome to be the fourth Haim sister."
Grammy Recognition
The trio are speaking from their homes, where they're resting up after an extensive tour in promoting their fourth album, I Quit.
They're currently processing the news it's been nominated for Best Rock Album at the Grammys – with Haim the first all-woman band ever in contention for the award.
"I tune into the announcements every year, so it sort of feels like The Truman Show when your name is read out," says Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I imagining things'?"
The importance of the accolade isn't lost on the trio.
"We deliberately set out to make a rock album this time, so it's a huge milestone," adds Alana. "Yet we're just grateful for the female artists that came before us."
Emotional Upheaval and Humour
The album came out of a phase of emotional upheaval. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music inhabits that strange transitional period where you're glad to be free, but not yet ready to start anew.
The themes detail breakups and goodbyes. The sisters seek love, but not the specific love they've experienced. You can hear them working out in real life who they are becoming.
"I adore summary, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a personal statement. You have to consciously practice ignoring the criticism and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."
Evolution of Music
That recent resilience demanded a fresh approach – more organic and powerful than any of the music the band had done before.
For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that started with the percussion.
"Percussion is such a specific thing, and I am so passionate about it," she says.
"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our book," jokes Alana. "I always say, our albums don't start until we find the ideal drum sound."
Experiences and Collective Camaraderie
The band's honesty shaped the album's rollout, where the sisters shared some of their dating misadventures.
One man 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 friendly slap at midnight.
"During these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's only darkness," notes Alana. "Thus to be able to share those stories and hear others tell you more outrageous stories, it's therapeutic."
A Confident Future
It's not difficult sense a shift in the band. Now, Haim are more assured of their standing in the rock pantheon.
They're major draws, with successful albums and an global audience.
However the sister act will always be their top focus.
"Me and my siblings have been making music since I was four," concludes Alana. "It feels as if no alternative that we were destined for. And I'm really grateful we've made it and we're still making music."