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"Any idea when you're chatting with the band?" an inquiry pops up. "I wanted to ask if I can join as their extra sister."

However, there remains a key snag: The author likewise wants to be the Haims' newest recruit. And we're far from alone. A host of celebrated fans have openly coveted the honor.

It's clear something is going on. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana began their career doing sets at neighborhood delis with their family. Presently, they stand as repeated Grammy hopefuls.

In the tradition of the most iconic ensembles, they're a tight-knit gang. Their music videos often depict them striding in sync down the roads of Los Angeles. On stage, they jam with such unfettered exuberance you can't help but think, "I wish to be a piece of that, too."

"The amount of times on tour that young girls approached us and said, 'Seeing you perform, I picked up a bass'," states Alana, the most junior of the sisters. "That's the ultimate honour. That is recognition in itself. We have succeeded if we can inspire people to form a group."

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

Historic Nod

The group are speaking from home, where they're resting up after an major tour in promoting their latest album, I Quit.

They're presently reeling from the news it's been shortlisted for best rock album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the very first female band ever in consideration for the award.

"I follow the lists every year, so it sort of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is read out," notes Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I imagining things'?"

The significance of the nomination is deeply felt by the band.

"We really set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a huge step," says Alana. "However we're just thankful for the female artists that came before us."

Heartbreak and Candor

The record emerged from a phase of personal change. All three sisters ended up single, and the music explores that odd transitional period where you're relieved to be free, but not entirely ready to move on.

The themes detail breakups and goodbyes. The sisters want love, but not the kind of love they've got. You can hear them determining in real time who they are becoming.

"That's a perfect summary, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a personal statement. You have to consciously practice ignoring the noise and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."

Evolution of Music

That newfound confidence required a new sound – more unpolished and immediate than any of the music the band had done before.

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

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

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

Stories and Collective Camaraderie

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

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

"Experiencing these breakups, you just feel like there's only darkness," says Alana. "So to be able to find humor in those stories and have them tell you even crazier stories, it's incredible."

A Secure Future

One can easily sense a shift in the band. Now, Haim are more assured of their position in the rock pantheon.

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

Yet the band will always be their primary focus.

"We have been making music since I was a young child," says Alana. "There is nothing else that we were meant to do. And I'm really thankful we've reached this point and we're still kicking."