Este Haim

Haim grew up in the San Fernando Valley, California[3] and studied at LA County's High School For The Arts.[4] Her family is Jewish, though they do not describe themselves as religious.[5] Haim's father, Mordechai "Moti" Haim, is an Israeli-born retired professional soccer player who moved to the United States in 1980.[6] Her mother, Donna Rose, is a former elementary school art teacher from Philadelphia.[7] Haim's paternal grandmother was originally from Bulgaria.[8]

The Haim sisters were taught to play instruments from an early age by their parents,[9] with Haim being encouraged to learn bass guitar by her father.[10] Donna, Moti, and their children formed a family band, performing covers for charity gigs and at children's hospitals.[11]

Haim graduated from University of California, Los Angeles with a degree in ethnomusicology.[10]

The band Haim formed in 2006 and played their first show in 2007. They released their first EP Falling as a free download on their website[12] after meeting producer Ludwig Göransson.[13] Their critically acclaimed debut album Days Are Gone was released in 2013,[14] followed by their sophomore album Something to Tell You in 2017.[15] Haim's third album Women in Music Pt. III was issued in June 2020, after the band postponed its release due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[16]

Haim performing in 2018

In 2021, Haim composed the score for the Netflix limited series Maid. She became involved in the project through a friend who was executive producing the show.[17][18] Haim collaborated with Christopher Stracey, a member of the electronic duo Bag Raiders. While Christopher produced and played synth-based sounds, Haim played most of the instruments.[19] While working on the music for Maid, Haim and Christopher were approached to score the film Cha Cha Real Smooth.[17]

Haim wrote original music for the Netflix teen movie Do Revenge. She collaborated with composer Amanda Yamate.[20]

Haim served as music consultant for season 2 of the HBO series The White Lotus after being invited to the set by her friend Dave Bernad.[21] Bernad executive produced the series, and asked Haim to work on the show after observing her interactions with actress Beatrice Granno.[21]

Haim hosted the pop culture and music podcast That Thing I Do with actor Darren Criss. One series of the podcast was released in 2021.[22]

In 2023, Haim acted in her first role as executive music producer on the National Geographic limited series A Small Light.[23] Composer Ariel Marx wrote an original score for the series, with Haim producing an accompanying soundtrack of cover versions of songs from the 1930s and 1940s.[24] Contributors to the soundtrack include Danielle Haim, Angel Olsen, Remi Wolf and Weyes Blood.[25]

Haim was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age fourteen, during her first year of high school.[26][27] In interviews, she has discussed the challenges of managing diabetes as a touring musician.[27] When the band first performed at Glastonbury Festival, Haim fainted after taking insulin without the opportunity to eat.[28][29] In 2018, Haim was diagnosed with stage 3 kidney disease.[14] She has since started wearing a continuous glucose monitor which she credits with transforming how she manages her diabetes.[30]

Este is a multi-instrumentalist who plays bass guitar, drums and guitar.[19] Este's main instrument is a 1975 Fender Precision Bass.[31] Her first bass was a Fender Jazz Precision, which she purchased herself after saving up her allowance.[32] Este prefers to play without a pick and rarely uses effects.[32][13] Bass Magazine described her style as diverse, "which allows her to both play for the song and play for the bass, at all times".[33]

Este is name-checked in the Taylor Swift song No Body, No Crime, which tells the story of avenging a murder.[35] Swift named the song's character after Este because she knew that Este would be excited to be included in a murder-mystery track.[36]

• Media related to Este Haim at Wikimedia Commons