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"When are you speaking to the band?" an inquiry pops up. "I was hoping to ask if I can become their extra sister."

However, there remains a key snag: The author likewise wants to be Haim's fourth member. And we're not alone. Several famous fans have openly coveted the role.

The evidence suggests something is at play. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana started their musical journey performing shows at local delicatessens with their family. Presently, they stand as repeated Grammy nominees.

Like all the best groups, they're a inseparable unit. Their music videos repeatedly show them walking in unison down the streets of Los Angeles. During performances, they perform with such pure joy you find yourself thinking, "I wish to be a piece of that, too."

"The amount of times on tour that fans came up to us and said, 'Watching you live, I bought a bass'," states Alana, the most junior of the trio. "It is the greatest honour. It is a prize in itself. We've done our job if we can encourage young girls to form a group."

"And thus anyone gets an invitation to be the next member of Haim."

Historic Milestone

The group are speaking from their homes, where they're recovering after an extensive tour in for their fourth album, I Quit.

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

"I tune into the lists every year, so it sort of feels like a surreal movie when your name is announced," notes Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I dreaming'?"

The significance of the accolade isn't lost on the trio.

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

Heartbreak and Candor

The project emerged from a period of emotional upheaval. All three sisters ended up single, and the music captures that strange liminal space where you're relieved to be free, but not yet ready to start anew.

The themes follow departures and goodbyes. The sisters want love, but not the kind of love they've had. You can hear them determining in the moment who they want to be.

"That's a perfect way of putting it, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a personal statement. You have to consciously practice blocking the outside opinions and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."

Evolution of Sound

That recent toughness required a fresh approach – more organic and powerful than anything the band had done before.

For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that was founded on the drums.

"The drum sound is such a detailed thing, and I care so much about it," she states.

"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our biography," jokes Alana. "I always say, our albums cannot begin until we find the ideal drum sound."

Stories and Shared Camaraderie

The trio's openness inspired the album's marketing, where the sisters disclosed some of their personal horror stories.

A former partner broke up with Este over a health concern. Alana shared a story of travelling to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture at midnight.

"Experiencing these breakups, you just feel like there's no light," says Alana. "So to be able to laugh at those stories and hear others tell you even crazier stories, it's therapeutic."

A Secure Path

It's not difficult sense a shift in the band. These days, Haim are more assured of their position in the rock pantheon.

They're major draws, with chart-topping albums and an international fan base.

However the band will consistently be their top priority.

"My sisters and I have been making music since I was four," concludes Alana. "It's like nothing else that we were supposed to do. And I'm really fortunate we've reached this point and we're still going strong."