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"Do you know when you'll be interviewing the band?" an inquiry pops up. "I wanted to ask if I can join as their fourth member."

There is only a single issue: The author likewise longs to be Haim's fourth member. Furthermore, we are far from alone. A host of famous supporters have publicly petitioned for the position.

It's clear an irresistible appeal is going on. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana began their musical journey playing gigs at local delicatessens with their parents. Today, they are repeated Grammy Award nominees.

In the tradition of the best ensembles, they're a tight-knit gang. Their videos repeatedly show them walking in unison down the avenues of Los Angeles. On stage, they jam with such pure exuberance you find yourself thinking, "I'd love to be part of that, too."

"The amount of times on tour that fans approached us and said, 'Watching you live, I picked up a drum kit'," says Alana, the youngest of the Haim siblings. "That is the biggest honor. That's an award in itself. We've done our job if we can inspire young girls to make music."

"Therefore anyone is invited to be the honorary part of the family."

Grammy Milestone

The group are speaking from a break, where they're recovering after an lengthy tour in support of their fourth album, I Quit.

They're presently processing the news it's been shortlisted for best rock album at the Grammys – with Haim the pioneering all-female band ever in the running for the prize.

"I watch the nominations every year, so it almost feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is announced," notes Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I hallucinating'?"

The significance of the accolade is deeply felt by the trio.

"We deliberately set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a major milestone," says Alana. "Yet we're just thankful for the pioneers that came before us."

Personal Turmoil and Candor

The album emerged from a time of emotional upheaval. All three sisters ended up single, and the music explores that strange liminal space where you're happy to be free, but not yet ready to move on.

The themes track breakups and partings. The sisters seek love, but not the specific love they've experienced. You can hear them figuring out in the moment who they aspire to be.

"I love description, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is like a mantra. You have to consciously practice ignoring the outside opinions and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."

Refinement of Sound

That developed confidence called for a new sound – more raw and direct than any of the music the band had done before.

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

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

"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the title of our book," laughs Alana. "I always say, our albums won't commence until we find the right drum sound."

Anecdotes and Collective Camaraderie

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

One man broke up with Este over a medical consideration. Alana recalled a story of travelling to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.

"When you're going through these breakups, you just feel like there's only darkness," says Alana. "Therefore to be able to laugh at those stories and have them tell you wilder stories, it's incredible."

A Confident Legacy

You can clearly sense a evolution in the band. Now, Haim are more certain of their position in the music world.

They're festival headliners, with successful albums and an worldwide audience.

But Haim will consistently be their primary priority.

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