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"When are you chatting with Haim?" a message arrives. "I was hoping to ask if I can become their newest bandmate."

However, there remains a key snag: The sender also longs to be Haim's additional sibling. And we're in plentiful company. A host of celebrated admirers have openly begged for the role.

The evidence suggests something is happening. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana began their career doing sets at local delicatessens with their parents. Today, they are multiple Grammy hopefuls.

In the tradition of the most iconic ensembles, they're a close gang. Their music videos often feature them walking in harmony down the roads of Los Angeles. In concert, they play with such boundless exuberance you can't help but think, "I'd love to be part of that, too."

"The numerous instances on tour that young girls came up to us and said, 'Watching you live, I bought a bass'," remarks Alana, the most junior of the Haim siblings. "That is the ultimate compliment. That's an award in itself. Our mission is accomplished if we can encourage others to form a group."

"And thus everyone gets an invitation to be the honorary Haim sister."

Grammy Nod

The band have called into their homes, where they're resting up after an lengthy tour in promoting their new album, I Quit.

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

"I tune into the nominations every year, so it kind of feels like a surreal movie when your name is read out," explains Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Am I hearing this correctly or am I dreaming'?"

The importance of the honor is deeply felt by the trio.

"We deliberately set out to make a rock album this time, so it's a significant milestone," continues Alana. "However we're just thankful for the female artists that inspired us."

Personal Turmoil and Laughter

The project was born from a phase of emotional upheaval. All three sisters found themselves single, and the music inhabits that strange in-between place where you're relieved to be free, but not quite ready to start anew.

The themes follow breakups and partings. The sisters seek love, but not the kind of love they've got. You can hear them working out in real time who they are becoming.

"I love description, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is kind of like a slogan. You have to actively work on blocking the criticism and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."

Refinement of Music

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

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

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

"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our book," jokes Alana. "Our motto is, our albums cannot begin until we find the right drum sound."

Anecdotes and Shared Camaraderie

The band's honesty inspired the album's promotional campaign, where the sisters revealed some of their personal tales.

One man broke up with Este over a health consideration. Alana recalled a story of flying to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a casual gesture at midnight.

"When you're going through these heartbreaks, you just feel like there's no hope," explains Alana. "Thus to be able to share those stories and have them tell you wilder stories, it's therapeutic."

A Confident Future

It's not difficult sense a evolution in the band. These days, Haim are more assured of their place in the rock pantheon.

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

But the sister act will forever be their number one commitment.

"My sisters and I have been performing since I was a young child," says Alana. "There is no alternative that we were supposed to do. And I'm really fortunate we've made it and we're still making music."