Alana Haim has revealed that life on the road feels different in your 30s, particularly if you’re part of one of the hardest-working live bands on the planet.
The 33-year-old guitarist and vocalist, one third of sibling trio Haim, says her pre-show routine now involves something decidedly un-rock ‘n’ roll: stretching.
“Actually, the only thing I have to do now is stretch before a show. That’s new. I’ve got to give a little stretch, because, the joints…”
Speaking to Music Week, Alana explained that although the band still feels like they’re 16 at heart, her body occasionally reminds her otherwise. With Haim now deep into promo for their fourth studio album I Quit, and a full tour kicking off in September, limbering up before a set is no longer optional.
Haim’s “opener mentality” keeps every show fierce
Despite more than a decade of playing live, from tiny clubs in LA to massive festival stages, the band has never lost its hunger.
Singer and lead guitarist Danielle Haim explained:
“Even when we’re headlining, we still have opener mentality. We always want to win the crowd over. We always want everyone leaving our show feeling, ‘Wow, Haim gave it their all.’ We take it very seriously.”
That same mentality was on full display during their secret set at Glastonbury last weekend, which was met with glowing reviews from fans and critics alike. The band is set to take that energy on the road with the I Quit Tour this autumn.
Sweat, sibling bond, and zero hugs
Alana joked that fans should keep their distance after shows because of the sheer physicality of their performance.
“We really do give it our all. I mean, we are a puddle of sweat. If anyone tries to hug me after a show, I’m like, ‘Please don’t. I smell and this is not okay!’”
Live performance has always been central to the Haim experience. From their earliest days in Los Angeles playing dive bars, they’ve built a reputation for shows that leave everything on stage.
“We love being in the studio, but from the very beginning, we’ve always considered ourselves a live band,” Alana said. “That’s where the magic happens.”
A long-rumoured Stevie Nicks collab is finally happening
In a separate interview on Watch What Happens Live, the band confirmed what fans have been hoping for: a new collaboration with Fleetwood Mac legend Stevie Nicks.
While they were tight-lipped on the details, Alana described the rock icon as:
“The greatest human being on this planet.”
Danielle added:
“And the song is really good.”
It’s not their first time sharing a stage. Back in 2018, Stevie joined Haim for a performance of Rhiannon at the MusiCares Person of the Year concert. More recently, Stevie has gone on record with GQ praising the trio’s songwriting and rhythmic interplay.
“It starts with Danielle’s voice – it is just stunning. She’s the first part of the puzzle, but then the percussion that Este and Alana wrap around her turns all of their songs into percussive masterpieces.”
She even went as far as to say the Haim sisters “could certainly all have been in Fleetwood Mac.”
