Episode #92: Este Haim
Este Haim is the bassist in the band, HAIM with her two sisters, Danielle and Alana.
Since making their debut with 2013’s widely praised Days Are Gone, HAIM have embraced an undeniable abandon in their songwriting and sound, boldly following their intuition to its most fascinating outcome. On the strength of their sophisticated musicality and singular sonic vision, the Southern California-bred sister trio have collaborated with artists as eclectic as Stevie Nicks and Calvin Harris, Dirty Projectors and Vampire Weekend, sold out shows at iconic venues Los Angeles’ Greek Theater and multiple nights at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, and embedded their songs with elements of everything from folk to hip-hop to power-pop. With their third album Women In Music Pt. III, HAIM now brings even greater imagination to their artistry, turning out some of their most fiercely original material to date. Este has been a type 1 diabetic for over 20 years. She attended UCLA and graduated with a BA in ethnomusicology.
On her first day of high school, Este Haim diagnosed herself with diabetes three hours before her doctor did. It’s a story you have to hear Este tell, because so much was encapsulated in this experience. Not only did her diagnosis story take on mythic proportions among her friends (who, like her, were theater kids with an instinct for drama), but it also established a hurdle for Este, who wanted to play music and be a touring musician. On today’s episode, Este shares what her parents told her when her doctor said her dream “might not be in the cards” anymore, and how having a supportive family has meant that diabetes and music can always coexist in her life. We also talk about how Este manages her physical and mental health, especially given that mental health challenges can be linked to diabetes but aren’t always talked about. Finally, we talk about Este’s life on the road with HAIM (the rock band she formed with her sisters, Danielle and Alana), their latest album, Women In Music Pt. III, and how she becomes the best version of herself on stage.
“When you have diabetes and you’re first diagnosed, you realize that you’re your own mathematician, you’re your own nutritionist, and you’re your own nurse. You have to kind of wear many hats as a diabetic.”
Here are some of the things Este and I chatted about:
Learning about diabetes during the first day of high school and running to the nurse’s office
What her doctor said about the future she had imagined and why it was so devastating to hear
Her dream of playing music and seeing the world, and how her family continued to support that
The mental challenges of diabetes, and how those added more pressure to her teenage years
The importance of bringing levity and humor to experiences that are painful or challenging
Wearing many hats as a diabetic, and the never-ending math problem that you’re solving
Her kryptonite (pizza) and how her boyfriend supports her and helps her stick to her limits
How an SSRI supports her mental health and makes her physical health feel manageable
The “getting on the wagon and falling off the wagon” she did in her 20s, and why it didn’t work
The challenge of finding healthy food while touring--especially when HAIM was just starting out
Navigating touring sleep schedules: adrenaline highs from being on stage and late bedtimes
How her sisters ensure she has access to good food while on tour, and what’s on their rider
HAIM’s latest album, Women In Music Pt. III, and why it’s been heartbreaking not to tour
What she’s listening to lately, and the music she and her boyfriend like to dance around to
Figuring out touring in the future, and the importance of people feeling safe and comfortable
“I always say that I’m Este 2.0 when I’m on stage. I become the best version of myself.”
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