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Edited By: TJVNews.com
The Haim sisters—Este, Danielle, and Alana—have emerged as one of the most influential sibling bands in modern music. With an ever-growing fanbase and a deep well of talent, the trio has captivated audiences worldwide. As PEOPLE magazine reported in July 2023, their ascent from a family band to Grammy-nominated rock stars has been nothing short of remarkable.
Their journey to stardom has been marked by collaborations with some of the biggest names in the industry. According to the 2023 PEOPLE magazine report, they count legendary figures such as Elton John among their admirers, while Taylor Swift and Lorde have welcomed them as musical partners. The sisters have also graced the stage alongside artists such as Lizzo, Stevie Nicks, and the Foo Fighters, further cementing their status in the music world.
The report in PEOPLE magazine noted that the group made music history at the 2021 Grammy Awards when they became the first all-female rock band to be nominated for Album of the Year. However, rather than engaging in discussions about gender in music, the Haim sisters took a tongue-in-cheek approach by naming their third full-length album Women in Music Pt. III. In a 2021 interview with PEOPLE magazine, Danielle Haim explained their reasoning: “In the spirit of being spontaneous, it made us laugh and we thought it was funny because we got asked, ‘What’s it like to be a woman in music?’ or, ‘What’s it like to be women in music?’ We had gotten that question every interview since 2012. So we thought, we think it’s funny: ‘Maybe if we name our album that, people will get the picture not to ask the question.’ And it worked.”
Their ability to blend humor with social commentary has only added to their appeal. PEOPLE magazine detailed how, in July 2023, the Haim sisters joined their friend Taylor Swift as the opening act for her Eras Tour. In a special nod to their collaboration, Swift incorporated their song “No Body, No Crime” into her setlist, allowing the sisters to perform the track live with her on stage. PEOPLE magazine reports that this collaboration will continue throughout the remainder of Swift’s North American tour dates, further solidifying their presence in contemporary music.
The Haim sisters’ passion for music can be traced back to their upbringing. As PEOPLE magazine recounted, their parents, Mordechai “Moti” and Donna Haim, met on a blind date, and Donna—who once won an episode of The Gong Show with a Bonnie Raitt cover—was initially unimpressed. However, when Moti started drumming on the table, their mutual love for music sparked a romance. This passion was soon passed down to their daughters. The PEOPLE magazine report noted that as young children, the sisters formed a family band, Rockinhaim, with their parents. Even at the age of five, Alana was being taught instruments, while her sisters honed their skills with piano lessons.
Their early years as musicians were shaped by a hands-on, DIY approach. PEOPLE magazine highlighted Alana’s recollection of learning songs by recording them from the radio onto cassette tapes. “It was the best school. To learn songs, we’d have to record them off the radio to cassette tape and then press pause and play for hours to learn all the chords and lyrics by ear,” she told The Guardian in 2012. “By the end, we knew every chord progression out there.”
Before fully forming their band, Danielle and Este pursued their own musical endeavors. PEOPLE magazine revealed s how Danielle toured with Jenny Lewis and Julian Casablancas and even performed on The Tonight Show with CeeLo Green. Meanwhile, Este’s academic prowess led her to complete a five-year ethnomusicology degree at UCLA in just two years. The sisters’ paths crossed again musically when Danielle and Este joined the band the Valli Girls in 2004, contributing to The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants soundtrack. However, they soon realized their true calling was with each other. As PEOPLE magazine reported, they left the Valli Girls in 2005 and, in 2007, officially formed HAIM as a trio.
California Girls Through and Through
Haim is synonymous with the sun-soaked, laid-back essence of California, but their specific upbringing in the San Fernando Valley has played a crucial role in shaping their music and identity. PEOPLE magazine reported that the sisters were raised in Valley Village, a suburban pocket just north of Ventura Boulevard. Despite being only a few miles from Hollywood, Este described the area as feeling like an entirely different world.
“We grew up along Laurel Canyon on the Valley side, north of Ventura, in a city called Valley Village, which we affectionately call Valley ‘Vill-ahh-ge’ to make it a little more chic,” Este told Variety in 2020. Their connection to their hometown is evident in their music, particularly in their song Los Angeles, which was inspired by Este’s teenage adventures driving into the city with Danielle and Alana. As the report in PEOPLE magazine recounted, Este’s first car, bought with bat mitzvah and chore money, had a sunroof and a malfunctioning CD player—but that didn’t stop her from driving over Laurel Canyon to music hotspots like the Roxy and Troubadour. Those formative experiences laid the foundation for the band’s signature blend of rock and pop, infused with a distinct West Coast spirit.
Proud of Their Jewish Heritage
Beyond their California roots, Haim’s identity is deeply shaped by their Jewish heritage, which played a significant role in their upbringing. PEOPLE magazine detailed how the sisters grew up embracing Jewish traditions, particularly the familial aspects of the faith. Alana emphasized the importance of coming together for High Holidays and shared meals, while Este noted that their observance of Shabbat was less about religious ritual and more about reinforcing family bonds.
Their Jewish identity also made its way into their music career. According to PEOPLE magazine, some of their earliest performances as Rockinhaim—a family band they formed with their parents—took place at Canter’s Deli, a legendary Jewish-style deli in Los Angeles. In a quirky yet fitting twist, they were compensated for their performances with matzo ball soup instead of money. Their affection for Jewish culture remained strong even as their fame grew. In December 2021, they released their own rendition of Adam Sandler’s The Chanukah Song, name-dropping contemporary Jewish stars such as Doja Cat, Timothée Chalamet, and Dan and Eugene Levy. Sandler himself enthusiastically endorsed their version, tweeting, “Love you ladies! You are three badass Jews! See you on tour!” as PEOPLE magazine noted.
JAY-Z’s Seal of Approval
Haim’s meteoric rise in the music industry was catalyzed by none other than JAY-Z. In 2012, the music mogul signed the band to Roc Nation, recognizing their talent and potential. PEOPLE magazine highlighted how surreal this moment was for the sisters, especially for Alana, who could barely contain her excitement when speaking to Fuse in 2013: “To say that JAY-Z is my boss makes me want to throw up… We are obsessed with JAY-Z and we’re just really excited that he wants us to be in his personal space.”
Signing with Roc Nation opened doors for the trio, and just a year later, they released their debut album, Days Are Gone. The record was a massive success, solidifying Haim as a major force in contemporary music. PEOPLE magazine reported that JAY-Z even sent the sisters a congratulatory note when their opening week sales figures were revealed. Their partnership with Roc Nation set the stage for even bigger career milestones, and in 2017, they transitioned to Full Stop Management, further expanding their influence in the industry.
A Near-Fatal Onstage Emergency
While their career has been filled with triumphs, Haim has also faced harrowing challenges—none more serious than Este’s medical emergency at the 2013 Glastonbury Festival. As PEOPLE magazine recounted, Este, who has Type 1 diabetes, experienced a dangerous drop in blood sugar during their set.
“I think we’ve had a lot of trials and tribulations on the road, there have been a couple of little mishaps—Glastonbury being one of them when I almost died,” she later told BBC News. She recalled feeling unwell early in their set, and by the sixth song, her blood sugar levels had plummeted to a dangerously low point.
“My eyes were kind of fluttering in the back of my head,” Este remembered. She was forced to leave the stage, and her manager checked her blood sugar levels—only to find that she was five points away from suffering a seizure. The terrifying incident underscored the physical toll of touring for musicians with medical conditions, but Este’s resilience and commitment to her craft have never wavered.
From Rock Star to Movie Star: Alana’s Big-Screen Debut
In 2021, Alana took a leap into acting with her starring role in Licorice Pizza, the coming-of-age drama directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. As PEOPLE magazine reported, Anderson’s connection to the Haim family runs deep—he was once a student of the sisters’ mother, Donna, in elementary school.
Anderson crafted Alana’s role specifically for her, even naming the character after her. Despite the personal nature of the role, Alana was initially nervous about her big-screen debut. “I was like, ‘I don’t even know where to look. What if I look at the camera?’” she told PEOPLE magazine.
However, Anderson was blown away by her performance. “I didn’t know she was going to be that good,” he later admitted to The New York Times. Alana credited her stage experience with Haim for preparing her for the film world, explaining, “Being in Haim, I’m doing so many different things and there are so many distractions that you have to tune everything out and just be very present in your body. And I think that really helps with shooting a movie.”
With Licorice Pizza, Alana showcased a new dimension of her artistry—one that seamlessly blends the confidence of a rock star with the emotional depth of a leading actress, as PEOPLE magazine highlighted.
The Haim Sisters’ “Telepathic” Songwriting Process
Haim’s creative synergy is so strong that it often feels supernatural. Their ability to anticipate each other’s thoughts and emotions plays a major role in their songwriting process. “Sister telepathy is a real thing,” Alana told PEOPLE magazine when discussing the making of Women in Music Pt. III. “Because we’re family, it’s easy to trust who you’re working with.”
That intense connection, however, can sometimes be a double-edged sword. As PEOPLE magazine reported, during the COVID-19 pandemic and following personal struggles—including the loss of a close friend—the sisters found themselves so emotionally intertwined that communication became difficult.
“We tend to tell each other everything, and then wear the emotions of each other,” Este explained. “So when one of us is feeling glum or blue, the other two tend to join that person in their loneliness.” She admitted feeling guilty for subjecting her sisters to her sadness but noted that it was unavoidable.
In an intriguing twist, the sisters believe this unique bond might be hereditary. “We do have a theory that our grandma is clairvoyant, so it might’ve been passed down from generation to generation,” Este told PEOPLE magazine. “There’s a telepathy that doesn’t happen if you’re not a sister.”
A Longstanding Friendship with Taylor Swift
Few artists in the industry share a friendship as close as the one between Taylor Swift and the Haim sisters. Their relationship extends beyond music, as PEOPLE magazine has indicated, with the sisters often being spotted at Swift’s birthday parties and private gatherings.
Their professional collaboration began in 2015 when Haim joined Swift on her 1989 tour, and their musical partnership has only grown stronger. In 2020, Swift featured Haim on No Body, No Crime, a country-inspired murder ballad from her album evermore—a song that even name-drops Este. They later worked together again when Swift lent her vocals to Haim’s track Gasoline.
The friendship also extends to the screen. In 2022, the Haim sisters played Swift’s stepsisters in her Bejeweled music video, embracing their roles with comedic flair. And in July 2022, Swift made a surprise appearance during Haim’s show at London’s O2 Arena, joining them on stage in a moment that thrilled fans.
Beyond the music, their bond is deeply personal. When Haim was announced as an opening act for Swift’s Eras Tour, PEOPLE magazine spoke with the sisters about what they were most excited for. Their answer? “Backstage dance parties,” Este revealed. “Backstage pre- and post-show dance parties with Taylor.”
A Band Defined by Talent, Resilience, and Sisterhood
Haim’s journey is one of passion, perseverance, and deep-rooted familial connection. Whether navigating the challenges of Type 1 diabetes on the road, stepping into the world of Hollywood, channeling their emotions into songwriting, or sharing the stage with Taylor Swift, the sisters have remained unwavering in their dedication to both their music and each other.
Haim is more than just a band. They are a testament to the power of sisterhood, an unstoppable creative force, and a defining voice in contemporary music.
