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"When are you speaking to Haim?" an inquiry pops up. "My request was to ask if I can join as their extra sister."

There is only one problem: The author likewise longs to be Haim's fourth member. And we're far from alone. Several famous fans have openly petitioned for the position.

The evidence suggests an irresistible appeal is happening. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana launched their career playing gigs at small eateries with their family. Presently, they stand as repeated Grammy contenders.

Similar to the best bands, they're a tight-knit trio. Their videos repeatedly feature them marching in sync down the streets of Los Angeles. In concert, they perform with such pure happiness you can't help but think, "I wish to be a piece of that, too."

"The amount of times on tour that audience members told us and said, 'Watching you live, I picked up a guitar'," remarks Alana, the most junior of the sisters. "That's the greatest compliment. That's an award in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can motivate young girls to start a band."

"And thus all are welcome to be the fourth part of the family."

Grammy Nod

The group have called into their homes, where they're resting up after an extensive tour in for their latest album, I Quit.

They're presently celebrating the news it's been in the running for best rock album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the first female band ever in the running for the award.

"I follow the lists every year, so it sort of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is announced," says Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I hallucinating'?"

The significance of the honor isn't lost on the sisters.

"We deliberately set out to make a rock album this time, so it's a major step," adds Alana. "But we're just appreciative for the women that came before us."

Emotional Upheaval and Humour

The record came out of a period of emotional upheaval. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music captures that odd in-between place where you're glad to be free, but not quite ready to let go.

The words track endings and goodbyes. The sisters want love, but not the kind of love they've got. You can hear them figuring out in real life who they are becoming.

"That's a perfect summary, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a mantra. You have to actively work on ignoring the criticism and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."

Development of Music

That recent resilience called for a fresh approach – more organic and direct than any of the music the band had done before.

For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that was founded on the percussion.

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

"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the name of our book," quips Alana. "I've said it, our albums don't start until we find the ideal drum sound."

Experiences and Collective Laughter

The trio's honesty fueled the album's marketing, where the sisters shared some of their dating horror stories.

A former partner ended things with Este over a health consideration. Alana recalled a story of flying to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.

"During these setbacks, you just feel like there's only darkness," explains Alana. "Therefore to be able to share those stories and hear others tell you even crazier stories, it's incredible."

A Secure Path

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

They're top-billed acts, with successful albums and an global fan base.

But the band will consistently be their primary focus.

"Me and my siblings have been playing music since I was a young child," says Alana. "It feels as if no alternative that we were supposed to do. And I'm really thankful we've reached this point and we're still going strong."