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"When are you chatting with the Haim sisters?" an inquiry pops up. "My request was to ask if I can become their fourth member."

However, there remains one problem: The author likewise desires to be Haim's fourth member. What's more, we are far from alone. A host of high-profile fans have also coveted the honor.

The evidence suggests a special quality is going on. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana began their career doing sets at small eateries with their parents. Now they're multiple Grammy hopefuls.

Similar to the most iconic ensembles, they're a close unit. Their visuals frequently show them marching in harmony down the streets of Los Angeles. On stage, they play with such pure joy you inevitably think, "I want to be part of that, too."

"The numerous instances on tour that audience members approached us and said, 'After your show, I picked up a bass'," says Alana, the youngest of the sisters. "It is the biggest compliment. It is a prize in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can encourage young girls to start a band."

"Therefore all gets an invitation to be the next Haim sister."

Grammy Nod

The band have called into home, where they're recovering after an major tour in support of their new album, I Quit.

They're presently reeling from the news it's been shortlisted for a top rock honor at the Grammys – with Haim the pioneering female band ever in consideration for the prize.

"I tune into the nominations every year, so it kind of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is called," says Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this right or am I dreaming'?"

The importance of the honor resonates with the trio.

"We truly set out to make a rock album this time, so it's a major milestone," continues Alana. "However we're just thankful for the female artists that paved the way."

Heartbreak and Humour

The album emerged from a period of personal change. All three sisters ended up single, and the music captures that unique in-between place where you're glad to be free, but not entirely ready to let go.

The themes track endings and partings. The sisters seek love, but not the relationships they've experienced. You can hear them working out in the moment who they want to be.

"I love description, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a mantra. You have to actively work on blocking the criticism and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."

Development of Style

That recent confidence demanded a different sonic direction – more unpolished and immediate than anything the band had done before.

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

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

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

Experiences and Collective Laughter

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

A former partner left Este over a health consideration. Alana recalled a story of travelling to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture at midnight.

"During these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's only darkness," explains Alana. "So to be able to share 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 standing in the rock pantheon.

They're festival headliners, with chart-topping albums and an global fan base.

But Haim will forever be their number one commitment.

"We have been performing since I was little," says Alana. "There is no alternative that we were destined for. And I'm really fortunate we've reached this point and we're still kicking."