Preparing to speak to one sister and getting another at the very last minute is certainly not the most productive way to start an interview, as is the case when we chat with highflying R&B-pop group Haim ahead of their eagerly awaited set at St Jerome's Laneway Festival Singapore. In place of lead guitarist and vocalist Danielle Haim is her older sister Este, who is the band's bassist. Suffice to say, questions about being a role model for middle children or working under Julian Casablancas's tutelage swiftly go out the window.
Unperturbed, Este is in a bubbly and cheery mood, as she should be - together with Danielle and self-proclaimed 'Baby Haim' Alana, the trio of twentysomethings has snapped up the BBC Sound of 2013 gong and won plaudits for their infectious Fleetwood Mac-meets-Destiny's Child sound. The Californian fills us in on Haim's blockbuster debut LP 'Days Are Gone', mimicking an Addams Family character and her basketball skills.
Congrats on the release of 'Days Are Gone'. With all the hype surrounding the band and big festival appearances even before the release of your debut record, was it a difficult record to make?
It wasn't a difficult album to make at all. We had a really good time recording it. I think at the beginning of the year, a lot of people wanted us to release the record sooner, but we stood our ground. We wanted to make sure we got the record we wanted to make. We took our time to experiment and cultivate the sound. I wouldn't have had it any other way. I wouldn't have put out a record that I was only 99 percent happy with.
Do you feel you have lived up to all the expectations?
I don't know. Did we? [Laughs] Honestly, we don't pay any attention to the hype. We just concentrate on making our best records, writing our best songs and doing the best live shows.
How was it playing on 'Saturday Night Live'?
It was a dream come true for me. I've always wanted to be a cast member or performer on the show, so it was surreal for me. 'SNL' is an American institution that's been around since the '70s - to be a part of that was pretty crazy. Obviously, it was a nerve-wrecking experience because it was a big deal for us. But at the end of the day, we did it and now we are on to the next performance.
So that's one item off your bucket list?
For sure! Well, one of the other things on my bucket list was to come to Singapore. My friend was telling me how fun it is and she gave me a whole list of places to go. So I'm really excited that we're finally going to get there.
Is that what you're most excited about the New Year?
I'm most excited about touring, seeing the world with my sisters and swimming in the ocean in the summer. It's summer now over there, right?
We're warm all year round here. I watched your 'Don't Save Me' music video, where you were all playing basketball. Very well, in fact.
We have a basketball court and hoop at our house. Our dad is a sports fanatic. He tried to turn all of us into basketball players because we are all pretty tall. I'm 6 ft. We're good - I'll take on anyone on the basketball court, dunk on them and kick their ass. All the shots that were made in the video were real.
What's the biggest difference between playing solely with your sisters on Haim and teaming up with your parents on Rockinhaim?
When we play as Rockinhaim, it feels more like Donna and the Haims. It's more of my mum's thing. She takes centre stage and brings it every night. It's kind of fun - all of us are her backup musicians. We play cover songs, so we get to perform all our favourite songs from Tina Turner and Wilson Pickett. We are not going to win any cool points as Rockinhaim, but we had fun doing it. That's all that matters.
There was a New York Times article dedicated strictly to you and your sisters' hair. What do you think about this growing obsession with your long locks?
It's crazy! When we grew up, our parents didn't like cutting hair. My mum had this thing about wanting to braid our hair. We had cornrows and once even looked like 'Children of the Corn', which was kind of embarrassing [laughs]. At the end of the day, we have good hair, so why not let it grow? I think it's kind of funny.
You guys could inspire the next big hair trend. People would want 'The Haim'.
Yeah, maybe we will just start wearing our hair in front of our faces like Cousin Itt. Maybe that will be the new thing.
You can try that out at Laneway Festival.
Of course! Life's too short; you've got to keep things interesting, you know?
'Days Are Gone' is now in stores
