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"When are you chatting with Haim?" a message reads. "My request was to ask if I can be their extra sister."

There's just a key snag: The author likewise desires to be Haim's newest recruit. Furthermore, we are not alone. Multiple famous admirers have openly coveted the role.

It's clear an irresistible appeal is at play. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana launched their musical journey performing shows at small eateries with their parents. Now they're repeated Grammy Award nominees.

Similar to the best groups, they're a inseparable trio. Their visuals often depict them striding in harmony down the avenues of Los Angeles. During performances, they play with such unfettered joy you inevitably think, "I want to be a piece of that, too."

"How often on tour that audience members came up to us and said, 'Watching you live, I got a bass'," says Alana, the most junior of the Haim siblings. "It is the ultimate honor. That's an award in itself. We have succeeded if we can inspire people to make music."

"So everyone gets an invitation to be the honorary member of Haim."

Historic Nod

The band are speaking from their homes, where they're taking a pause after an major tour in promoting their latest album, I Quit.

They're presently processing the news it's been in the running for best rock album at the Grammys – with Haim the very first female band ever in contention for the award.

"I follow 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, 'Did we just hear this correctly or am I dreaming'?"

The significance of the accolade resonates with the trio.

"We really set out to make a rock album this time, so it's a significant step," continues Alana. "But we're just grateful for the women that inspired us."

Emotional Upheaval and Humour

The project came out of a time of transition. All three sisters ended up single, and the music inhabits that unique liminal space where you're happy to be free, but not yet ready to let go.

The lyrics track departures and partings. The sisters want love, but not the specific love they've had. You can hear them figuring out in real life who they aspire to be.

"I adore way of putting it, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a slogan. You have to consciously practice ignoring the noise and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."

Refinement of Music

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

For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that began with the drum sound.

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

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

Anecdotes and Collective Humor

The band's openness shaped the album's rollout, where the sisters revealed some of their dating horror stories.

One man left Este over a health consideration. Alana told a story of flying to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a friendly slap at midnight.

"When you're going through these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's only darkness," says Alana. "So to be able to laugh at those stories and have them tell you wilder stories, it's so amazing."

A Secure Path

It's not difficult sense a shift in the band. These days, Haim are more assured of their position in the rock pantheon.

They're major draws, with chart-topping albums and an international fan base.

But Haim will always be their number one commitment.

"Me and my siblings have been playing music since I was four," says Alana. "It's like nothing else that we were meant to do. And I'm really fortunate we've made it and we're still making music."