Last Wednesday, April 29, the pop-rock band, Haim, released their timely new single “I Know Alone” off their upcoming album Women in Music Pt. lll to be released through Columbia Records on June 26. The band is based out of Los Angeles and comprised of sisters, Alana, Danielle and Este Haim.
Initially, Haim postponed releasing their album until the end of the summer due to the COVID-19 crisis. Bustling with excitement to get their new music out into the world, they decided to release the album just in time for the season.
The band has been rolling out tracks off the new album since last summer. Soothing Indie bop, “Summer Girl,” was released last July accompanied by a classic Haim music video directed by frequent collaborator Paul Thomas Anderson. In the fall came the refreshingly honest “Now I’m In It” and the emotive “Hallelujah.” Then in March, the band gave us playful folky kiss-off “The Steps” (music videos also directed by Anderson accompanied all of the tracks). Now we have been given “I Know Alone.”
To an extent, music is about timing. During this period of uncertainty and isolation, “I Know Alone” feels like a friend saying, “I’m going through this too, I understand and I’m here for you…please enjoy learning this fun new dance routine with me while you’re stuck at home.”
Along with the track, Haim dropped a new music video where the three California girls dressed in high wasted jeans, t-shirts and white sneakers, perform a socially-distanced dance in a driveway. Yesterday the band hosted a zoom dance tutorial in partnership with The Face Magazine. If you’re interested in learning the routine, keep your eyes locked on Haim’s social media channels because the girls said they might host another one (@haimtheband). The video is simple, but it is fitting (and should explode on TikTok).
Danielle, the lead singer/guitarist of Haim, wrote the song when she was in the “deepest spiral of being alone,” entirely unrelated to the coronavirus crisis. The band had always intended for “I Know Alone” to be the next single and the lyrical content coincidentally lined up with current events.
When Haim started in the industry over a decade ago, rock and roll had a more sizable influence on their music. As time has gone on, Haim has further experimented with music production as a tool to individualize their artistry. The genre-bending “My Song 5” off their debut album was just an introduction to what these girls are capable of creating. The beats of “I Know Alone” are reminiscent of the girl group, PYT’s “We’re Dancing,” straight out of the late 90s/early 2000s pop era. Mixed with Haim’s signature layered vocals, electronic touches and slick strings, the track feels wonderfully modern. It is a screenshot of the moment: a historical visual and musical marker.
Check out Haim performing the new single on Stephen Colbert’s #PlayAtHome series:
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