The songs that first shaped the Haim sisters
Stevie Nicks recently came out to say that the Haim sisters would have perfectly fit into Fleetwood Mac. Now, there’s certainly a case to be made for the three sisters to seamlessly embody the free-thinking, almost West Coast-style mindset of the band, but did the soap opera of Fleetwood Mac really need sibling squabbles added on top?
Regardless of whether they’re siblings or soulmates, what Nicks is rightly alluding to is the inextricable link between the band members that laces the music, particularly the harmonies. Haim, like Fleetwood Mac, have an indelible bond, forged by higher powers that, despite the subject of the song, be it warring ideals or declarations of love, is driven by their synchronicity.
Haim, in particular, have captured that essence of a band you want to be a part of. Their debut album, Days Are Gone, was ferocious at points but showcased a sense of lyrical liberation and observational fun that allowed the sisters to become the soundtrack to a generation crossing the threshold of youth and adulthood.
For many, and importantly, young women, Haim’s music has acted as a steady hand through the pitfalls of modern life and heartache, and, as a band, they have embraced that responsibility by creating an open discourse with audiences to give them a better understanding of their lives. Rather than play the part of aloof, inaccessible rock stars, they instead leaned into their idiosyncrasies and opened themselves up to their fans.
For their music-loving fans, there was no better way of doing that than sharing songs that shaped their musical upbringing. One such song proved their destiny to become a chart-topping family trio was preassigned. Linda Ronstadt’s ‘You’re No Good’ was a dancefloor filler that they would play with their parents.
“We basically had a band with our mum and dad, and one of the artists that we played a lot of songs by was Linda Ronstadt,” Este explained to Teen Vogue before her sister Danielle affirmed that ‘You’re No Good’ was “a showstopper too”.
The early foundations of fun-loving music sowed a seed of creativity for the sisters, whose music, like Ronstadt’s hit, blurs the line between high-brow authenticity and an all-out sing-along classic.
But as Haim reeled off music that formed their musical life, the blend between commercial pop and alternative nuance became clear. Soundtracks from The Goofy Movie rolled into Joni Mitchell before it all clicked on Animal Collective’s ‘Leaf House’. A track, Danielle explained, “I think it was the first time I kind of realised what music production was”.
Together, these tracks clearly outline the makings of a band hellbent on authenticity. In the face of criticism for being corny, they flip a switch to display their fine-tuned musical education which has ultimately culminated in forming a group who have perfected the rock-pop blend.
“If we were to sum up this playlist, we would say rollercoaster of emotions, just like how me, Este, and Daniella are”. Regardless of the genre, lyrical content or composition, the band, like their playlist, are focused on one thing and one thing only: truthfully portraying the human experience.
