Singer
Danielle Haim
1Songs
·
1News
Save songs, rate them, and discover music with others.
Continue with GoogleDon't have an account?
Join to save, rate, and discuss music.
Continue with GoogleAlready have an account?
We'll send a reset link to your email.
“We were called Rockinhaim.”
Born on February 16, 1989, in Los Angeles, California, Danielle Haim was raised in a musically inclined household by her parents, Moti and Donna Haim, who encouraged her early interest in instruments. As a child, she played lead guitar in the family band, Rockinhaim, alongside her parents and sisters, Este and Alana, performing classic rock covers. This formative experience allowed her to develop skills on guitar, drums, and piano from a young age.
In 2004, Danielle and Este joined the pop group The Valli Girls, signing with Sony Records (also cited as Columbia Records). The group released songs for various soundtracks, including “Always There in You” for the 2005 film *The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants*. However, Danielle and Este eventually departed from The Valli Girls due to restrictions on their songwriting contributions, a decision that underscored Danielle’s commitment to creative autonomy.
“That was a dream come true to be playing in his band.”
In 2007, Danielle, Este, and Alana formed Haim, initially as a casual side project. Danielle spent several years as a touring musician, notably playing guitar with Jenny Lewis starting in 2009. She then toured with Julian Casablancas of The Strokes from 2009 to 2010, contributing percussion and guitar, and appeared in his music video for “11th Dimension.” This period was significant for Danielle, who described playing in Casablancas’s band as a “dream come true” and an “eye-opening experience.”
During this time, Danielle gained valuable industry insight and realized her preference for performing her own material with her sisters, a sentiment reinforced by Casablancas’s advice to focus on writing stronger songs before a debut album. Haim’s commitment to their band deepened, leading to the release of their debut EP, *Forever*, as a free download in February 2012. The EP, coupled with a well-received performance at the South by Southwest festival in March 2012, garnered significant attention and led to recording deals with Polydor Records and Roc Nation later that year.
“We'd been sitting on those songs for years.”
Haim released their debut studio album, Days Are Gone, on September 27, 2013. The album was a commercial success, reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart and charting within the top ten in several other countries. Danielle, as the band’s lead vocalist and lead guitarist, played a central role in shaping the album’s sound, which critics praised for its blend of indie rock, pop, and R&B influences.
The success of Days Are Gone propelled Haim into extensive touring, including opening for Taylor Swift’s 1989 World Tour in 2015. The band’s growing recognition culminated in a nomination for Best New Artist at the 57th Grammy Awards in 2015, solidifying their status as a significant new voice in music.
“I feel like what I really wanted to achieve was to really open up and be a bit more forthcoming with my feelings and emotions.”
Haim’s second studio album, Something to Tell You, was released on July 7, 2017, further showcasing their evolving sound and charting at number seven on the Billboard 200. Danielle’s artistic contributions continued to grow, culminating in her co-production role on the band’s third album, Women in Music Pt. III, released on June 26, 2020. This album, which was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, received widespread critical acclaim for its honest and vulnerable lyrics, exploring themes drawn from Danielle’s personal experiences, including post-tour depression and her boyfriend’s cancer diagnosis.
Women in Music Pt. III earned Haim a nomination for Album of the Year at the 63rd Grammy Awards, with the single “The Steps” also nominated for Best Rock Performance. Beyond her work with Haim, Danielle has collaborated with various artists, providing vocals on Vampire Weekend’s 2019 album *Father of the Bride* and playing drums on tracks for Clairo’s 2019 album *Immunity*. More recently, she was featured on Bon Iver’s 2025 album *Sable, Fable* and contributed to Haim’s 2025 singles “Everybody’s trying to figure me out” and “Relationships,” as well as their upcoming fourth album, *I Quit*.
Be the first to share your thoughts on “Private: Artist Discussion: Danielle Haim”
