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"When are you speaking to Haim?" a message pops up. "My request was to ask if I can become their extra sister."

There's just one problem: The sender also wants to be Haim's fourth member. And we're in plentiful company. Multiple celebrated fans have openly begged for the position.

The evidence suggests an irresistible appeal is going on. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana began their career playing gigs at small eateries with their family. Now they're repeated Grammy Award contenders.

In the tradition of the greatest groups, they're a inseparable gang. Their videos frequently show them walking in harmony down the streets of Los Angeles. In concert, they perform with such boundless exuberance you can't help but think, "I wish to be part of that, too."

"The amount of times on tour that young girls told us and said, 'After your show, I got a bass'," says Alana, the youngest of the trio. "It is the greatest honour. That's an award in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can inspire others to make music."

"And thus anyone gets an invitation to be the honorary member of Haim."

Historic Nod

The band have called into a break, where they're taking a pause after an lengthy tour in for their new album, I Quit.

They're right now celebrating the news it's been shortlisted for Best Rock Album at the Grammys – with Haim the first all-woman band ever in consideration for the trophy.

"I tune into the lists every year, so it almost feels like a surreal movie when your name is read out," says Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this right or am I hallucinating'?"

The weight of the accolade is deeply felt by the band.

"We truly 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."

Heartbreak and Humour

The album emerged from a phase of emotional upheaval. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music inhabits that unique transitional period where you're relieved to be free, but not entirely ready to move on.

The lyrics detail departures and partings. The sisters seek love, but not the relationships they've got. You can hear them determining in real life who they want to be.

"I adore summary, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a personal statement. You have to make an effort in blocking the outside opinions and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."

Refinement of Sound

That newfound toughness required a new sound – more organic and direct than anything the band had done before.

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

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

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

Stories and Collective Camaraderie

The trio's openness inspired the album's marketing, where the sisters disclosed some of their romantic horror stories.

One man broke up with Este over a medical concern. Alana told a story of travelling to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture at midnight.

"During these setbacks, you just feel like there's no light," notes Alana. "Thus to be able to share those stories and hear others tell you wilder stories, it's incredible."

A Secure Future

You can clearly sense a evolution in the band. These days, Haim are more assured of their standing in the rock pantheon.

They're top-billed acts, with hit albums and an international fan base.

Yet Haim will consistently be their primary focus.

"Me and my siblings have been performing since I was a young child," shares Alana. "It's like no alternative that we were meant to do. And I'm really fortunate we've made it and we're still kicking."