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"When are you chatting with the band?" an inquiry arrives. "I wanted to ask if I can become their newest bandmate."

However, there remains a single issue: The author likewise longs to be Haim's fourth member. And we're in plentiful company. Multiple high-profile supporters have also 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. Now they're repeated Grammy contenders.

In the tradition of the greatest bands, they're a tight-knit trio. Their videos often show them walking in unison down the roads of Los Angeles. In concert, they play with such pure exuberance you inevitably think, "I want to be part of that, too."

"How often on tour that young girls approached us and said, 'Watching you live, I picked up a guitar'," states Alana, the most junior of the trio. "That's the ultimate honor. That's an award in itself. We've done our job if we can encourage others to form a group."

"So everyone gets an invitation to be the fourth Haim sister."

Award Nod

The trio are speaking from home, where they're recovering after an lengthy tour in promoting their fourth album, I Quit.

They're currently reeling from the news it's been shortlisted for a top rock honor at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the pioneering female band ever in contention for the award.

"I tune into the nominations every year, so it sort of feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is announced," notes Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this right or am I imagining things'?"

The significance of the nomination resonates with the sisters.

"We really set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a huge milestone," adds Alana. "However we're just thankful for the female artists that paved the way."

Emotional Upheaval and Laughter

The record was born from a time of transition. All three sisters were single, and the music explores that strange in-between place where you're glad to be free, but not yet ready to move on.

The lyrics detail breakups and farewells. The sisters desire love, but not the kind of love they've experienced. You can hear them figuring out in real time who they aspire to be.

"I adore summary, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a mantra. You have to make an effort in ignoring the outside opinions and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."

Refinement of Style

That newfound confidence demanded a different sonic direction – 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 drums.

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

"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our biography," quips Alana. "I always say, our albums won't commence until we find the perfect drum sound."

Stories and Shared Camaraderie

The trio's honesty inspired the album's rollout, where the sisters revealed some of their personal tales.

A former partner left Este over a medical consideration. Alana recalled a story of travelling to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a friendly slap at midnight.

"When you're going through these setbacks, you just feel like there's no light," explains Alana. "Thus to be able to find humor in those stories and have them tell you wilder stories, it's incredible."

An Assured Legacy

You can clearly sense a change in the band. These days, Haim are more assured of their place in the industry.

They're festival headliners, with chart-topping albums and an worldwide audience.

However Haim will consistently be their top focus.

"We have been playing music since I was little," says Alana. "There is no other path that we were destined for. And I'm really fortunate we've gotten here and we're still making music."