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"When are you chatting with the Haim sisters?" a message reads. "I wanted to ask if I can be their newest bandmate."

There is only one problem: The author likewise desires to be the Haims' newest recruit. Furthermore, we are not alone. A host of famous admirers have publicly petitioned for the role.

It's clear something is at play. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana launched their career doing sets at neighborhood delis with their parents. Presently, they stand as multi-time Grammy contenders.

Similar to the best groups, they're a tight-knit unit. Their videos frequently show them marching in harmony down the avenues of Los Angeles. During performances, they play with such boundless joy you can't help but think, "I'd love to be part of that, too."

"The numerous instances on tour that young girls told us and said, 'Watching you live, I picked up a guitar'," states Alana, the youngest of the trio. "That is the biggest honour. That is recognition in itself. We have succeeded if we can inspire people to start a band."

"Therefore all are welcome to be the fourth member of Haim."

Historic Recognition

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

They're currently celebrating 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 award.

"I watch the lists every year, so it almost feels like The Truman Show when your name is read out," says Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this correctly or am I hallucinating'?"

The weight of the honor resonates with the trio.

"We really set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a significant step," says Alana. "But we're just appreciative for the pioneers that paved the way."

Heartbreak and Humour

The album came out of a period of transition. All three sisters were single, and the music explores that strange liminal space where you're relieved to be free, but not entirely ready to let go.

The words track breakups and partings. The sisters desire love, but not the relationships they've experienced. You can hear them determining in real life who they are becoming.

"That's a perfect description, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a mantra. You have to make an effort in blocking the noise and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."

Refinement of Style

That developed resilience demanded a new sound – more organic and powerful than any of the music the band had done before.

For Danielle, who helped produce the album, that began with the drums.

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

"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our biography," laughs Alana. "I always say, our albums don't start until we find the ideal drum sound."

Experiences and Collective Laughter

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

A former partner ended things with Este over a medical consideration. Alana told a story of flying to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a friendly slap at midnight.

"During these setbacks, you just feel like there's no hope," says Alana. "So to be able to find humor in those stories and have them tell you even crazier stories, it's therapeutic."

A Confident Path

It's not difficult sense a change in the band. These days, Haim are more assured of their place in the industry.

They're festival headliners, with hit albums and an global fan base.

But the sister act will consistently be their number one priority.

"We have been performing since I was four," shares Alana. "It's like no alternative that we were meant to do. And I'm really grateful we've gotten here and we're still going strong."