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"Any idea when you're chatting with the band?" a text arrives. "My request was to ask if I can join as their fourth member."

There's just one problem: I also longs to be Haim's newest recruit. What's more, we are far from alone. A host of celebrated supporters have openly coveted the position.

It's clear a special quality is at play. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana launched their musical journey playing gigs at local delicatessens with their parents. Presently, they stand as multiple Grammy contenders.

Like all the best ensembles, they're a inseparable gang. Their music videos often feature them marching in harmony down the avenues of Los Angeles. During performances, they perform with such boundless exuberance you can't help but think, "I'd love to be part of that, too."

"How often on tour that fans approached us and said, 'Watching you live, I got a drum kit'," states Alana, the youngest of the trio. "That's the ultimate honour. That's an award in itself. We've done our job if we can encourage young girls to make music."

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

Award Nod

The group are speaking from a break, where they're recovering after an major tour in for their fourth 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 female band ever in contention for the trophy.

"I watch the nominations every year, so it kind of feels like a surreal movie when your name is read out," notes Alana. "I immediately called my sisters to say, 'Did we just hear this correctly or am I dreaming'?"

The importance of the accolade resonates with the sisters.

"We deliberately set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a huge milestone," says Alana. "However we're just grateful for the female artists that inspired us."

Heartbreak and Laughter

The album came out of a phase of transition. All three sisters ended up single, and the music explores that unique liminal space where you're glad to be free, but not quite ready to move on.

The themes track departures and goodbyes. The sisters seek love, but not the specific love they've experienced. You can hear them working out in real time who they want to be.

"I love description, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a slogan. You have to consciously practice ignoring the criticism and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."

Refinement of Sound

That newfound confidence required a different sonic direction – more unpolished and direct than anything the band had done before.

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

"Percussion is such a nuanced thing, and I am so passionate about it," she states.

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

Stories and Collective Camaraderie

The band's openness inspired the album's rollout, where the sisters shared some of their romantic horror stories.

One man ended things with 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.

"Experiencing these setbacks, you just feel like there's only darkness," notes Alana. "So to be able to share those stories and hear others tell you even crazier stories, it's therapeutic."

A Confident Path

One can easily sense a evolution in the band. These days, Haim are more certain of their position in the music world.

They're major draws, with hit albums and an global following.

However the band will always be their primary commitment.

"My sisters and I have been playing music since I was four," says Alana. "It's like no alternative that we were supposed to do. And I'm really grateful we've made it and we're still going strong."