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"When are you chatting with the Haim sisters?" a message arrives. "I wanted to ask if I can become their fourth member."

There is only one problem: The author likewise desires to be Haim's additional sibling. And we're not alone. Several celebrated admirers have publicly begged for the role.

One thing is obvious a special quality is happening. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana started their musical journey performing shows at neighborhood delis with their parents. Today, they are multi-time Grammy Award contenders.

Like all the best ensembles, they're a inseparable unit. Their visuals often feature them walking in harmony down the roads of Los Angeles. On stage, they play with such unfettered happiness you inevitably think, "I want to be part of that, too."

"The amount of times on tour that fans told us and said, 'Watching you live, I picked up a drum kit'," remarks Alana, the youngest of the sisters. "That's the biggest honour. That is recognition in itself. We've done our job if we can motivate others to form a group."

"So all is invited to be the honorary member of Haim."

Historic Nod

The group are connecting from a break, where they're recovering after an major tour in promoting their new album, I Quit.

They're presently celebrating the news it's been nominated for a top rock honor at the Grammys – with Haim the pioneering all-woman band ever in contention for the award.

"I tune into the lists every year, so it sort of feels like a surreal movie when your name is announced," says Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this right or am I hallucinating'?"

The weight of the nomination resonates with the band.

"We truly set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a huge milestone," adds Alana. "However we're just grateful for the female artists that came before us."

Personal Turmoil and Candor

The project emerged from a time of transition. All three sisters were single, and the music explores that unique liminal space where you're glad to be free, but not entirely ready to move on.

The lyrics follow endings and goodbyes. The sisters desire love, but not the specific love they've experienced. You can hear them determining in real life who they want to be.

"I love description, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is like a slogan. You have to actively work on blocking the outside opinions and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."

Evolution of Style

That newfound toughness called for a fresh approach – more organic and immediate than any of the music the band had done before.

For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that began with the drums.

"Percussion is such a nuanced thing, and I am so passionate about it," she says.

"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our memoir," jokes Alana. "I've said it, our albums won't commence until we find the right drum sound."

Experiences and Collective Camaraderie

The trio's honesty shaped the album's rollout, where the sisters shared some of their dating tales.

Someone left Este over a medical concern. Alana recalled a story of travelling to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a friendly slap at midnight.

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

An Assured Path

You can clearly sense a shift in the band. These days, Haim are more certain of their standing in the rock pantheon.

They're top-billed acts, with successful albums and an global following.

Yet the sister act will forever be their number one focus.

"We have been performing since I was four," shares Alana. "It's like no other path that we were destined for. And I'm really fortunate we've reached this point and we're still kicking."