As the title suggests, I've got a hankering for Haim.
I've had a hankering for them way back since I first heard them on Radio One mid 2012.
But let me explain to you why that is.
As a 17 year old girl who hails from Derby, England's go to place for well... nothing,
except a nice big lake, some rather large hills and perhaps the odd Bakewell tart, Haim are like goddesses to me, what with their long sun kissed manes, irresistible Californian quirk and undeniable cool girl auras.
They come from California, I come from Derby, they have sun spun tales of love
and heart break all set against the backdrop of west coast USA, and if I tried capturing the essence
of the Derbyshire Dales, we'd have abstract sheep noises fused with football chants and who wants to hear that?
You look at them, and you want to be them.
You want the hair, the cool girl swag, the talent, everything.
Heck, I've even suggested to my little sis that we do a Haim and make a band and grow our hair out and make some songs and just be quintessentially cool like them.
But alas, she said no.
And anyway, it's not like we would be much competition, would we?
Because these girls are utterly fabulous, they're a force to be reckoned with, and when you stop to think about it, just as I did on my early morning trek to college, it's actually rather incredible what
they've achieved and just how they've gone about it.
Now I'm not trying to go off on a feminist rant, but in the present day music industry, lets face it, if you're a woman, you aren't going to get very far without taking your kit off and doing a
spot of twerking or gyrating.
It has to be sexualised, it has to compromise on your dignity, your strength, your independence.
Your aesthetic is more important than your talent, it undermines it & overshadows it
to the point where people are talking about the dress you wore (or didn't) as opposed to your integrity as an artist.
You can claim all you like to be strong, fearless, feisty, but the reality is,
when you're standing on a stage in just your bra and pants or diamond encrusted swimming cozzie,
no matter how fabulous your body, who's really believing you?
I'm not criticizing female artists who do that, but it seems a shame that
in this day and age, female artists have to resort to these measures to even be heard, let alone taken seriously as an artist. It isn't right.
And now back to the whole point of this article, that's why I love Haim.
Because these are three girls who keep their clothes on, and through their sheer talent and feisty natures alone, have successfully managed to carve out a name for themselves and gain respect from the music industry's notorious top dogs.
For example in the predominantly male orientated NME, Haim, who are currently gracing the front
cover, more than hold their own against their male opposition and they are respected and revered by both NME and fellow artists, and that's really saying something.
No-one dares bad mouth them and why should they?
These girls are incredible at what they do. An all female rock band who make quality music without
taking their gear off and all whilst radiating that fearless, no bullshit vibe that challenges
anyone to mess with them and what they do so fantastically well.
They care about their music, they care about their craft and they've been harnessing their skills their whole lives, having played in their parents band for years.
It's all about the music, not the aesthetics, and surely that's how it's meant to be?
They're feisty females and loyal sisters who stand their ground in a male orientated world,
they've gone to town with the seemingly unachievable task of a being the first all woman band, not pop group, to be taken seriously by the music industry, and they've done it all with
a confidence and assurance that I wish I had myself, as well as a glorious long mane of hair pretty please.
And now, on the eve of the release, of the long awaited debut 'Days Are Gone', I hope that
we will be listening to and writing about these ladies for many years to come.
They're brilliant now, but as time goes on they're going to evolve and develop their sound and become even more of a force than they are right now.
They can only get better, and with that, here's to Haim.
Doing rock the right way, with long hair, snarls, epic guitar, Californian grace
and your sisters right by your side.
BUY THE ALBUM: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Days-Are-Gone-Standard-Haim/dp/B00BPQC1AK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380450798&sr=8-1&keywords=haim
DON'T SAVE ME
THE WIRE
FOREVER
