The New Regime: HAIM

"We grew up on TLC, Aaliyah, Missy Elliott, Backstreet Boys, and 'N Sync," says guitarist and vocalist Danielle Haim of the '90s R&B influence in the sister act's sound. "We still listen to Top 40 radio most of the time, but through our parents we listened to classic rock and Motown and funk." All those sounds blend together in the celebratory pop of HAIM.

Danielle, 22, has the highest profile in the band, having toured with Julian Casablancas and Jenny Lewis, but along with multi-instrumentalist Alana, 20, and bassist Este, 24, the trio — who recently added drummer Dash Hutton to the band —have years of live experience after playing in family band Rockenhaim with their parents when they were young; "Alana was four," says Danielle. "We always thought we would end up working together on something more serious. We just didn't know how to get there."

They went the great-artists-steal route while learning the songwriting process, taking their favorite songs and refashioning them as their own. They soon began playing live and building a loyal following in their native Los Angeles. But recording proved to be a difficult process. "Every year we would go into the studio and try to make a record and it always sounded... not good," says Danielle, but each instance was an education. After "fucking around on three songs for six months" the Forever EP finally appeared this past February, and their fortunes have sharply improved ever since.

They recently signed to Columbia Records and are now under a little more pressure to turn out a full-length album, which Danielle vaguely suggests they'll be ready to release in the early half of 2013.