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"When are you speaking to Haim?" an inquiry reads. "I wanted to ask if I can be their fourth member."

There's just a single issue: I also longs to be the Haims' newest recruit. What's more, we are not alone. Several celebrated fans have openly petitioned for the position.

One thing is obvious an irresistible appeal is at play. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana began their musical journey performing shows at local delicatessens with their parents. Now they're repeated Grammy Award contenders.

In the tradition of the most iconic groups, they're a tight-knit unit. Their videos often feature them marching in unison down the streets of Los Angeles. During performances, they play with such pure exuberance you find yourself thinking, "I'd love to be involved in that, too."

"The amount of times on tour that young girls approached us and said, 'After your show, I picked up a guitar'," remarks Alana, the youngest of the trio. "That is the biggest compliment. That's an award in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can motivate people to form a group."

"So all gets an invitation to be the fourth part of the family."

Grammy Recognition

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

They're right now processing the news it's been nominated for Best Rock Album at the Grammys – with Haim the very first female band ever in contention for the trophy.

"I tune into the lists every year, so it almost feels like a surreal movie when your name is called," says Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this right or am I hallucinating'?"

The significance of the nomination isn't lost on the band.

"We deliberately set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a huge step," continues Alana. "But we're just thankful for the pioneers that came before us."

Emotional Upheaval and Laughter

The project emerged from a time of transition. All three sisters ended up single, and the music inhabits that strange transitional period where you're relieved to be free, but not yet ready to start anew.

The themes follow departures and goodbyes. The sisters want love, but not the specific love they've got. You can hear them determining in real time who they want to be.

"I love description, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a mantra. You have to consciously practice shutting out the criticism and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."

Development of Sound

That developed toughness demanded a fresh approach – more raw and immediate than anything the band had done before.

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

"Percussion is such a nuanced thing, and I care so much about it," she emphasizes.

"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our book," laughs Alana. "I always say, our albums don't start until we find the perfect drum sound."

Stories and Collective Humor

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

Someone ended things with Este over a health concern. Alana told a story of flying to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture at midnight.

"Experiencing these setbacks, you just feel like there's no light," notes Alana. "So to be able to find humor in those stories and have them tell you wilder stories, it's incredible."

A Secure Legacy

One can easily sense a evolution in the band. Today, Haim are more confident of their standing in the music world.

They're top-billed acts, with hit albums and an international audience.

Yet the sister act will always be their primary commitment.

"We have been making music since I was little," shares Alana. "It's like no other path that we were destined for. And I'm really grateful we've gotten here and we're still going strong."