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"When are you speaking to the Haim sisters?" a message pops up. "I wanted to ask if I can be their fourth member."

There's just one problem: The author likewise longs to be Haim's newest recruit. What's more, we are in plentiful company. Several famous fans have also petitioned for the honor.

It's clear a special quality is happening. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana began their path doing sets at local delicatessens with their parents. Now they're multiple Grammy Award contenders.

In the tradition of the most iconic groups, they're a close gang. Their videos frequently feature them marching in harmony down the streets of Los Angeles. During performances, they play with such boundless joy you inevitably think, "I'd love to be a piece of that, too."

"The numerous instances on tour that young girls told us and said, 'After your show, I got a guitar'," says Alana, the most junior of the Haim siblings. "That's the greatest honor. That's an award in itself. We have succeeded if we can inspire young girls to start a band."

"And thus anyone are welcome to be the fourth Haim sister."

Historic Milestone

The group are connecting from home, where they're taking a pause 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 Grammy Awards – with Haim the pioneering female band ever in consideration for the trophy.

"I follow the announcements every year, so it sort of feels like The Truman Show when your name is announced," explains Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this right or am I imagining things'?"

The weight of the accolade is deeply felt by the sisters.

"We truly set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a huge milestone," adds Alana. "Yet we're just grateful for the pioneers that inspired us."

Emotional Upheaval and Candor

The project emerged from a phase of personal change. All three sisters were single, and the music explores that strange transitional period where you're happy to be free, but not quite ready to let go.

The lyrics detail endings and farewells. The sisters desire love, but not the kind of love they've experienced. You can hear them determining in real time who they are becoming.

"I love summary, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a slogan. You have to make an effort in shutting out the criticism and saying, 'I don't give what people think'."

Refinement of Sound

That developed toughness called for a fresh approach – more unpolished and direct than any of the music the band had done before.

For Danielle, who worked on producing the album, that started with the drums.

"Drums are such a specific thing, and I care so much about it," she says.

"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our book," quips Alana. "I always say, our albums cannot begin until we find the perfect drum sound."

Stories and Collective Humor

The trio's honesty fueled the album's rollout, where the sisters shared some of their personal misadventures.

Someone ended things with 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.

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

A Confident Legacy

You can clearly sense a shift in the band. Now, Haim are more certain of their place in the music world.

They're festival headliners, with successful albums and an global following.

But Haim will consistently be their number one commitment.

"We have been performing since I was a young child," says Alana. "It's like nothing else that we were supposed to do. And I'm really fortunate we've made it and we're still making music."