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"Any idea when you're speaking to the band?" a message reads. "I was hoping to ask if I can be their extra sister."

There is only a key snag: The author likewise wants to be the Haims' additional sibling. Furthermore, we are in plentiful company. Multiple celebrated fans have publicly coveted the role.

The evidence suggests a special quality is happening. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana began their musical journey doing sets at small eateries with their parents. Presently, they stand as multiple Grammy Award contenders.

In the tradition of the best ensembles, they're a tight-knit trio. Their videos repeatedly feature them marching in harmony down the streets of Los Angeles. In concert, they play with such unfettered joy you inevitably think, "I want to be involved in that, too."

"The amount of times on tour that audience members approached us and said, 'Watching you live, I picked up a guitar'," remarks Alana, the most junior of the sisters. "That's the biggest compliment. It is a prize in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can motivate people to form a group."

"Therefore everyone is invited to be the honorary part of the family."

Historic Nod

The trio are connecting from their homes, where they're recovering after an major tour in promoting their new album, I Quit.

They're presently celebrating the news it's been shortlisted for Best Rock Album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the first all-woman band ever in the running for the prize.

"I tune into the lists every year, so it kind of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is read out," says Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I dreaming'?"

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

"We truly set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a major milestone," says Alana. "But we're just appreciative for the women that came before us."

Personal Turmoil and Humour

The project came out of a phase of emotional upheaval. All three sisters were single, and the music inhabits that unique liminal space where you're glad to be free, but not entirely ready to move on.

The words detail endings and farewells. The sisters seek love, but not the relationships they've had. You can hear them working out in real time who they want to be.

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

Development of Music

That recent resilience demanded a different sonic direction – more unpolished and powerful than any of the music the band had done before.

For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that began with the drums.

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

"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our memoir," quips Alana. "I've said it, our albums cannot begin until we find the ideal drum sound."

Experiences and Shared Laughter

The trio's honesty fueled the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters revealed some of their personal tales.

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

"During these setbacks, you just feel like there's no hope," says Alana. "Therefore to be able to share those stories and hear others tell you even crazier stories, it's therapeutic."

A Secure Future

It's not difficult sense a change in the band. Today, Haim are more confident of their place in the rock pantheon.

They're major draws, with chart-topping albums and an global audience.

Yet Haim will forever be their primary focus.

"My sisters and I have been performing since I was a young child," shares Alana. "There is no other path that we were destined for. And I'm really thankful we've gotten here and we're still kicking."