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"Any idea when you're interviewing the Haim sisters?" an inquiry pops up. "My request was to ask if I can become their newest bandmate."

There's just a key snag: The author likewise longs to be Haim's newest recruit. And we're not alone. A host of famous supporters have also begged for the role.

One thing is obvious a special quality is at play. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana started their musical journey playing gigs at local delicatessens with their parents. Today, they are multiple Grammy Award nominees.

In the tradition of the best ensembles, they're a close gang. Their visuals often show them walking in sync down the streets of Los Angeles. In concert, they perform with such boundless exuberance you find yourself thinking, "I'd love to be a piece of that, too."

"How often on tour that audience members came up to us and said, 'Watching you live, I bought a bass'," says Alana, the most junior of the trio. "It is the greatest honor. That is recognition in itself. We have succeeded if we can motivate people to make music."

"And thus anyone are welcome to be the next Haim sister."

Historic Milestone

The group are connecting from a break, 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 in the running for Best Rock Album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the very first female band ever in contention for the prize.

"I tune into the nominations every year, so it almost feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is read out," says Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this correctly or am I hallucinating'?"

The significance of the honor resonates with the sisters.

"We truly set out to make a rock album this time, so it's a major achievement," adds Alana. "Yet we're just thankful for the pioneers that inspired us."

Emotional Upheaval and Humour

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

The lyrics track breakups and partings. The sisters desire love, but not the relationships they've had. You can hear them figuring out in the moment who they want to be.

"I love description, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is like a personal statement. You have to make an effort in blocking the noise and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."

Refinement of Sound

That developed resilience demanded a fresh approach – more organic and direct than any of the music the band had done before.

For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that was founded on the drums.

"Percussion is such a nuanced thing, and I care so much about it," she emphasizes.

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

Stories and Shared Humor

The band's candor inspired the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters disclosed some of their romantic misadventures.

One man left Este over a health consideration. Alana told a story of flying to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture at midnight.

"Experiencing these breakups, you just feel like there's no hope," notes Alana. "So to be able to laugh at those stories and have them tell you more outrageous stories, it's therapeutic."

An Assured Path

One can easily sense a shift in the band. Now, Haim are more certain of their position in the rock pantheon.

They're major draws, with chart-topping albums and an worldwide audience.

Yet the band will forever be their primary commitment.

"We have been playing music since I was four," shares Alana. "It feels as if nothing else that we were destined for. And I'm really fortunate we've gotten here and we're still making music."