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"When are you speaking to Haim?" a message arrives. "My request was to ask if I can be their newest bandmate."

There's just a single issue: The sender also longs to be the Haims' fourth member. And we're far from alone. Multiple high-profile admirers have also petitioned for the position.

It's clear an irresistible appeal is going on. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana launched their career doing sets at neighborhood delis with their parents. Today, they are multiple Grammy Award hopefuls.

In the tradition of the best groups, they're a tight-knit trio. Their videos often depict them marching in harmony down the streets of Los Angeles. In concert, they jam with such pure exuberance you can't help but think, "I wish to be involved in that, too."

"How often on tour that young girls told us and said, 'Watching you live, I picked up a bass'," remarks Alana, the most junior of the Haim siblings. "It is the ultimate honour. That's an award in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can motivate people to form a group."

"So everyone is invited to be the next Haim sister."

Award Recognition

The group are connecting from their homes, where they're taking a pause after an major tour in for their latest album, I Quit.

They're right now processing the news it's been shortlisted for a top rock honor at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the pioneering all-woman band ever in the running for the trophy.

"I tune into the announcements every year, so it sort of feels like a surreal movie when your name is read out," explains Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this right or am I hallucinating'?"

The importance of the accolade resonates with the band.

"We truly set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a huge milestone," continues Alana. "However we're just thankful for the women that inspired us."

Personal Turmoil and Humour

The album emerged from a phase of transition. All three sisters were single, and the music inhabits that unique in-between place where you're glad to be free, but not yet ready to let go.

The lyrics follow breakups and goodbyes. The sisters desire love, but not the relationships they've experienced. You can hear them determining in real time who they are becoming.

"That's a perfect description, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a slogan. You have to consciously practice blocking the outside opinions and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."

Refinement of Style

That developed toughness called for a fresh approach – more unpolished and immediate than any of the music the band had done before.

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

"The drum sound is such a nuanced thing, and I am so passionate about it," she says.

"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the title of our memoir," laughs Alana. "I always say, our albums cannot begin until we find the perfect drum sound."

Experiences and Shared Camaraderie

The trio's honesty fueled the album's marketing, where the sisters disclosed some of their dating tales.

One man left Este over a health concern. Alana told a story of travelling to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.

"Experiencing these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's only darkness," notes Alana. "Therefore to be able to find humor in those stories and hear others tell you wilder stories, it's so amazing."

A Confident Path

One can easily sense a shift in the band. These days, Haim are more certain of their position in the industry.

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

However the sister act will forever be their top priority.

"Me and my siblings have been performing since I was a young child," shares Alana. "It's like no alternative that we were destined for. And I'm really fortunate we've gotten here and we're still making music."