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"Do you know when you'll be interviewing Haim?" a message pops up. "I was hoping to ask if I can become their newest bandmate."

There's just one problem: The sender also wants to be Haim's newest recruit. Furthermore, we are not alone. A host of famous fans have publicly begged for the honor.

The evidence suggests an irresistible appeal is going on. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana began their musical journey doing sets at local delicatessens with their family. Now they're repeated Grammy Award contenders.

Like all the greatest bands, they're a inseparable unit. Their videos frequently feature them striding in harmony down the roads of Los Angeles. During performances, they jam with such pure happiness you find yourself thinking, "I'd love to be involved in that, too."

"The numerous instances on tour that fans approached us and said, 'After your show, I picked up a bass'," says Alana, the youngest of the trio. "That's the biggest honour. That is recognition in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can inspire others to start a band."

"So all gets an invitation to be the fourth member of Haim."

Grammy Recognition

The trio are connecting from a break, where they're recovering after an extensive tour in promoting their latest album, I Quit.

They're presently celebrating the news it's been in the running for a top rock honor at the Grammys – with Haim the very first all-female band ever in the running for the trophy.

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

The weight of the accolade isn't lost on the sisters.

"We deliberately set out to make a rock album this time, so it's a significant step," continues Alana. "But we're just appreciative for the female artists that paved the way."

Personal Turmoil and Humour

The album emerged from a phase of transition. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music captures that strange in-between place where you're glad to be free, but not entirely ready to start anew.

The lyrics follow departures and partings. The sisters desire love, but not the relationships they've experienced. You can hear them figuring out in real time who they want to be.

"That's a perfect summary, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a mantra. You have to consciously practice shutting out the outside opinions and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."

Refinement of Sound

That newfound resilience demanded a different sonic direction – more unpolished and powerful than any of the music the band had done before.

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

"Percussion is such a specific thing, and I focus so intensely about it," she emphasizes.

"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our book," laughs Alana. "Our motto is, our albums cannot begin until we find the right drum sound."

Experiences and Collective Laughter

The band's candor fueled the album's marketing, where the sisters revealed some of their romantic tales.

A former partner broke up with Este over a health concern. Alana recalled a story of flying to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.

"Experiencing these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's no light," says Alana. "Therefore to be able to find humor in those stories and hear others tell you wilder stories, it's so amazing."

A Secure Legacy

It's not difficult sense a change in the band. Today, Haim are more certain of their place in the rock pantheon.

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

However the band will forever be their top priority.

"We have been making music since I was a young child," concludes Alana. "It feels as if no alternative that we were destined for. And I'm really thankful we've reached this point and we're still going strong."