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"When are you interviewing the Haim sisters?" a message arrives. "I wanted to ask if I can join as their fourth member."

However, there remains one problem: The author likewise desires to be the Haims' newest recruit. What's more, we are far from alone. A host of celebrated fans have publicly coveted the honor.

The evidence suggests a special quality is at play. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana launched their musical journey playing gigs at local delicatessens with their parents. Now they're multi-time Grammy contenders.

Similar to the greatest groups, they're a tight-knit gang. Their visuals frequently show them striding in sync down the streets of Los Angeles. During performances, they perform with such pure happiness you find yourself thinking, "I wish to be a piece of that, too."

"The amount of times on tour that audience members came up to us and said, 'Watching you live, I bought a guitar'," states Alana, the youngest of the Haim siblings. "It is the greatest honour. It is a prize in itself. We've done our job if we can inspire others to start a band."

"So all is invited to be the honorary member of Haim."

Historic Recognition

The trio are connecting from home, where they're taking a pause after an major tour in support of their latest album, I Quit.

They're presently reeling from the news it's been nominated for a top rock honor at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the pioneering all-female band ever in consideration for the trophy.

"I watch the nominations every year, so it almost feels like The Truman Show when your name is called," notes Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this right or am I dreaming'?"

The importance of the honor isn't lost on the trio.

"We deliberately set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a significant milestone," says Alana. "But we're just grateful for the female artists that came before us."

Heartbreak and Candor

The project came out of a period of emotional upheaval. All three sisters were single, and the music explores that strange liminal space where you're glad to be free, but not quite ready to let go.

The words detail breakups and partings. The sisters want love, but not the kind of love they've experienced. You can hear them working out in real time who they are becoming.

"That's a perfect description, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a slogan. You have to make an effort in shutting out the outside opinions and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."

Refinement of Sound

That developed toughness demanded a fresh approach – more raw and direct than anything the band had done before.

For Danielle, who helped produce the album, that was founded on the drum sound.

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

"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the title of our biography," laughs Alana. "I've said it, our albums won't commence until we find the right drum sound."

Experiences and Shared Laughter

The band's candor shaped the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters revealed some of their personal tales.

A former partner left Este over a medical consideration. Alana told a story of travelling to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.

"During these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's no light," notes Alana. "Thus to be able to laugh at those stories and have them tell you even crazier stories, it's so amazing."

A Secure Path

You can clearly sense a change in the band. Today, Haim are more confident of their place in the industry.

They're top-billed acts, with successful albums and an global fan base.

Yet the band will consistently be their number one commitment.

"We have been performing since I was four," says Alana. "It's like no other path that we were supposed to do. And I'm really thankful we've gotten here and we're still kicking."