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"Do you know when you'll be speaking to Haim?" an inquiry pops up. "I was hoping to ask if I can be their fourth member."

There is only a key snag: I also desires to be the Haims' newest recruit. Furthermore, we are far from alone. A host of celebrated supporters have openly coveted the honor.

The evidence suggests an irresistible appeal is going on. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana started their musical journey performing shows at local delicatessens with their parents. Presently, they stand as repeated Grammy Award nominees.

Like all the greatest groups, they're a inseparable trio. Their music videos often show them walking in harmony down the roads of Los Angeles. During performances, they play with such unfettered joy you find yourself thinking, "I want to be part of that, too."

"How often on tour that fans came up to us and said, 'After your show, I got a bass'," remarks Alana, the youngest of the Haim siblings. "It is the greatest honour. It is a prize in itself. We have succeeded if we can encourage young girls to form a group."

"Therefore everyone gets an invitation to be the honorary part of the family."

Historic Nod

The group are speaking from their homes, where they're taking a pause after an major tour in support of their fourth album, I Quit.

They're right now celebrating the news it's been shortlisted for a top rock honor at the Grammys – with Haim the pioneering all-female band ever in consideration for the award.

"I tune into the lists every year, so it kind of feels like a surreal movie when your name is announced," says Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I imagining things'?"

The importance of the honor resonates with the band.

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

Heartbreak and Laughter

The project was born from a time of transition. All three sisters ended up single, and the music captures that unique in-between place where you're happy to be free, but not entirely ready to start anew.

The words follow endings and farewells. The sisters seek 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 way of putting it, yes," responds Danielle. "I Quit is like 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 Sound

That newfound toughness required a new sound – more organic and direct than any of the music the band had done before.

For Danielle, who helped produce the album, that started with the percussion.

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

"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the title of our biography," jokes Alana. "I've said it, our albums won't commence until we find the ideal drum sound."

Anecdotes and Collective Laughter

The trio's honesty fueled the album's marketing, where the sisters revealed some of their romantic misadventures.

Someone broke up with Este over a health concern. Alana shared a story of travelling to celebrate New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a high five at midnight.

"When you're going through these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's no hope," notes Alana. "Therefore to be able to share those stories and have them tell you more outrageous stories, it's so amazing."

A Confident Future

You can clearly sense a shift in the band. Now, Haim are more assured of their place in the rock pantheon.

They're top-billed acts, with hit albums and an global following.

Yet the sister act will always be their primary focus.

"My sisters and I have been performing since I was four," concludes Alana. "It's like no alternative that we were destined for. And I'm really thankful we've gotten here and we're still going strong."