Haim (band)

Lore & Background

The Haim sisters grew up in the San Fernando Valley, California, to Jewish parents. Their father Mordechai 'Moti' Haim, a former professional soccer player in Israel, played drums, and their mother Donna won a contest on The Gong Show in the 1970s. The family formed the cover band Rockinhaim, performing at local charity fairs and community events. Este and Danielle briefly performed with the pop group Valli Girls in 2005, appearing on soundtracks and at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards. In 2007, the sisters formed Haim, but did not pursue it professionally for several years. Danielle later toured as a guitarist with Jenny Lewis and Julian Casablancas, an experience that led to the band's reformation as a full-time operation in 2012.

The band's first release, the Forever EP, was initially a free download in February 2012, later made available for purchase. After a successful series of shows at South by Southwest, they signed with Polydor Records and Roc Nation. Their debut album Days Are Gone (2013) reached number one in the UK and earned them a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. Subsequent albums Something to Tell You (2017) and Women in Music Pt. III (2020) followed, with the latter earning nominations for Album of the Year and Best Rock Performance at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.

Reader's Guide

Haim's significance lies in their rise from a family cover band to a critically acclaimed rock group with international chart success. Their music blends classic rock, pop, and R&B influences, shaped by their parents' record collection and their own diverse experiences. The band's early career was marked by persistence—playing sparsely attended gigs and working with established artists—before breaking through with the Forever EP and a strong festival presence. Their debut album Days Are Gone topped the UK charts and sold 200,000 copies there, while later albums earned multiple Grammy nominations. The group's legacy includes their role as a prominent sibling act in rock music, their ability to evolve their sound across four studio albums, and their consistent presence in the music industry from the early 2010s through the mid-2020s. Their story illustrates the impact of family collaboration, industry networking, and gradual professional development.

Did You Know?

• The sisters' father, Moti Haim, was a professional soccer player in Israel before becoming a drummer.
• Este Haim was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2000 and nearly had a diabetic seizure during a 2013 Glastonbury set.
• The band's first gig was at a Jewish deli in Hollywood, where they were paid in matzah ball soup.