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"Do you know when you'll be speaking to the Haim sisters?" a message pops up. "I wanted to ask if I can join as their extra sister."

There's just a single issue: The author likewise longs to be the Haims' fourth member. And we're far from alone. A host of celebrated admirers have also begged for the honor.

The evidence suggests a special quality is at play. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana launched their path performing shows at local delicatessens with their parents. Today, they are multiple Grammy Award contenders.

Similar to the greatest groups, they're a tight-knit trio. Their music videos often feature them striding in harmony down the roads of Los Angeles. In concert, they perform with such pure happiness you inevitably think, "I'd love to be involved in that, too."

"The numerous instances on tour that fans came up to us and said, 'After your show, I got a guitar'," says Alana, the youngest of the Haim siblings. "That is the ultimate compliment. It is a prize in itself. We've done our job if we can inspire people to make music."

"Therefore all gets an invitation to be the fourth member of Haim."

Award Nod

The group have called into home, where they're recovering after an lengthy tour in support of their fourth album, I Quit.

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

"I watch the lists every year, so it almost feels like The Truman Show when your name is announced," says Alana. "I needed to phone my sisters to say, 'Did I hear this correctly or am I hallucinating'?"

The weight of the honor resonates with the band.

"We truly set out to make a guitar-driven album this time, so it's a huge achievement," continues Alana. "But we're just grateful for the pioneers that paved the way."

Emotional Upheaval and Humour

The project was born from a time of personal change. All three sisters ended up single, and the music inhabits that unique liminal space where you're relieved to be free, but not entirely ready to let go.

The lyrics track breakups and farewells. The sisters seek love, but not the relationships they've got. You can hear them determining in real time who they want to be.

"I adore way of putting it, yes," agrees Danielle. "I Quit is essentially a mantra. You have to actively work on shutting out the noise and saying, 'It doesn't matter to me what people think'."

Evolution of Sound

That developed confidence required a different sonic direction – more unpolished and powerful than any of the music the band had done before.

For Danielle, who helped produce the album, that was founded on the drums.

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

"'Journey of the drum sound' will be the title of our biography," quips Alana. "Our motto is, our albums don't start until we find the right drum sound."

Stories and Collective Laughter

The band's openness shaped the album's rollout, where the sisters shared some of their dating tales.

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

"When you're going through these breakups, you just feel like there's no hope," notes Alana. "Thus to be able to share those stories and hear others tell you more outrageous stories, it's incredible."

A Secure Path

You can clearly sense a change in the band. These days, Haim are more assured of their position in the rock pantheon.

They're top-billed acts, with successful albums and an worldwide audience.

Yet the sister act will always be their number one focus.

"My sisters and I have been playing music since I was little," says Alana. "There is nothing else that we were supposed to do. And I'm really grateful we've made it and we're still making music."