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"When are you speaking to Haim?" a message reads. "My request was to ask if I can be their newest bandmate."

There's just a key snag: I also longs to be Haim's additional sibling. What's more, we are far from alone. Multiple high-profile fans have also begged for the position.

The evidence suggests a special quality is at play. The siblings Este, Danielle and Alana launched their path playing gigs at local delicatessens with their family. Presently, they stand as multi-time Grammy Award contenders.

Similar to the best groups, they're a tight-knit trio. Their videos repeatedly show them striding in sync down the roads of Los Angeles. During performances, they play with such boundless exuberance you inevitably think, "I want to be part of that, too."

"How often on tour that audience members came up to us and said, 'After your show, I got a drum kit'," remarks Alana, the most junior of the Haim siblings. "That's the biggest compliment. It is a prize in itself. We have succeeded if we can motivate young girls to form a group."

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

Grammy Milestone

The trio are speaking from a break, where they're taking a pause after an lengthy tour in for their fourth album, I Quit.

They're currently celebrating the news it's been in the running for best rock album at the Grammy Awards – with Haim the first female band ever in consideration for the prize.

"I follow the lists every year, so it almost feels like an out-of-body experience when your name is read out," explains Alana. "I had to call my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this right or am I hallucinating'?"

The weight of the nomination isn't lost on the trio.

"We deliberately set out to make a rock record this time, so it's a huge step," says Alana. "However we're just thankful for the female artists that inspired us."

Emotional Upheaval and Laughter

The project emerged from a period of transition. All three sisters were single, and the music explores that strange in-between place where you're relieved to be free, but not yet ready to let go.

The lyrics detail endings and goodbyes. The sisters seek love, but not the relationships they've experienced. You can hear them determining in real time who they aspire to be.

"I love description, yes," says Danielle. "I Quit is like a personal statement. You have to make an effort in ignoring the noise and saying, 'I couldn't care less what people think'."

Refinement of Music

That developed confidence called for a different sonic direction – more raw and powerful than anything the band had done before.

For Danielle, who co-produced the album, that started with the percussion.

"The drum sound is such a detailed thing, and I focus so intensely about it," she emphasizes.

"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the subject of our book," quips Alana. "I've said it, our albums cannot begin until we find the ideal drum sound."

Experiences and Collective Camaraderie

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

One man ended things with Este over a health concern. Alana told a story of flying to spend New Year's Eve with someone, only to receive a friendly slap at midnight.

"Experiencing these setbacks, you just feel like there's no hope," says Alana. "So to be able to laugh at those stories and have them tell you even crazier stories, it's so amazing."

A Secure Path

It's not difficult sense a shift in the band. These days, Haim are more certain of their standing in the industry.

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

However Haim will forever be their top focus.

"We have been making music since I was little," says Alana. "There is no alternative that we were supposed to do. And I'm really grateful we've made it and we're still kicking."