HAIM pose for their new album cover in a VERY unlikely location while sporting a WHSmith carrier bag – and fans are going wild
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The all-American girl band HAIM has posed for their new album cover in a very surprising UK location.
The Grammy-nominated trio, named after the surname of bandmates and sisters Alana, 33, Danielle, 36, and Este, 39, have become internationally famous for their pop-rock songwriting and instrumental skills.
But the cover of their next single from their upcoming album I Quit, set to drop on Friday, depicts a location much closer to home, as far as UK fans are concerned.
The artwork for the song Take Me Back features a snap of the American band on Portland Street in Manchester – with youngest sister Alana clutching a WHSmith bag.
The album, set for full release on June 20, marks HAIM’s first studio recording in five years, so fans were already hyped – but the randomness of the shoot has sent them over the edge.
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The all-American girl band HAIM has posed for their new album cover in a very surprising UK location, as they unveiled the artwork on Thursday
The Grammy-nominated trio (pictured performing during Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in 2023) have become internationally famous for their pop-rock songwriting and instrumental skills
One user, posting an image on X (pictured) of the exact place on Portland Street where the photo of the band was taken, said: ‘That’s… Portland Street, Manchester’
One user questioned on X: ‘This is Manchester. Why are HAIM near Piccadilly Gardens?’
Another joked: ‘The new HAIM single cover taken in Manchester, like girls, why didn’t we hang?’
Someone else said: ‘HAIM’s new single cover has reminded me how much I miss Vegan Shack [restaurant in Manchester]. This is Portland Street in Manchester.’
This is most certainly not the first time Manchester has featured on notable music artwork.
On the cover of Oasis’s iconic 1994 debut album Definitely Maybe is a now legendary house in the West Didsbury area of Manchester.
And Salford Lads Club, the home of a youth group, has become a pilgrimage site for fans of The Smiths, who were pictured outside on the front of their 1986 album The Queen Is Dead.
But it still caught fans unawares to see somewhere so familiar in HAIM’s album art, with one commenting in confusion on X: ‘HAIM single cover in Manchester with Alana clutching a WHSmith bag…?’
Another said in complete shock, of the location near the city centre’s Piccadilly Gardens: ‘WTF were HAIM doing in Manchester?’
It caught fans unawares to see somewhere so familiar in HAIM’s (pictured at the BRIT Awards in 2021) album art
The album, set for full release on June 20, marks HAIM’s first studio recording in five years, so fans were already hyped – but the randomness of the shoot has sent them over the edge (pictured)
Someone else, posting a picture of the exact place on Portland Street where the photo of the band was taken, said: ‘That’s… Portland Street, Manchester.
‘Not the first place I’d pick for a single cover but pop off.’
Fans also noted the album cover was styled after a paparazzi snap of British actors Keira Knightley and Jamie Dornan, taken in 2004.
One said: ‘The artwork for HAIM’s new single Take Me Back was inspired by a 2004 photo of Keira Knightley and Jamie Dornan. Drops tomorrow – don’t miss it.’
The cover shows the three sisters walking along the street, with youngest sisters Danielle and Alana dressed exactly like the Brits in the noughties snap.
The attention to detail is astonishing, with Danielle even wearing a white scarf draped over her shoulders at exactly the same angle Keira is sporting it at in the photo.
It comes after three other singles the band released from their upcoming album earlier this year also took inspiration from iconic paparazzi snaps.
The cover of Down To Be Wrong, for example, which debuted last month, was based on a picture of actors Jared Leto and Scarlett Johansson kissing – while he distractedly tried to look at his mobile flip phone at the same time.
Fans also noted (pictured) the album cover was styled after a paparazzi snap of British actors Keira Knightley and Jamie Dornan, taken in 2004
The cover shows the three sisters walking along the street, with youngest sisters Danielle and Alana dressed exactly like the Brits in the noughties snap (pictured)
The director of the cover shoot, Terrence O’Connor, spoke out on X (pictured) about the process of bringing the album art to life
They are set to return to Manchester later this year, for a huge show at the Co-Op Live stadium in October, while on tour. Pictured: HAIM at the Grammy Awards in 2021
But in a first for the band’s marketing for this album, the inspiration behind the cover for Take Me Back is uniquely British.
And in a pleasing Easter egg moment for HAIM fans familiar with Manchester, well-known spots like restaurant Don Tacos and One Piccadilly Gardens offices are visible in the cover photo, the Manchester Evening News reports.
The director of the shoot, Terrence O’Connor, spoke out on X about the process of bringing the album art to life.
The photographer, known for his long-time collaboration with British singer Charli XCX, said: ‘Take me back to me and D buying out the Manchester Victoria’s Secret and shooting this two hours later lol.
‘Artwork by me for Take Me Back by HAIM. Styled by us chaotically the morning of as always. A perfect song for my/your nostalgia addiction out Friday!’
HAIM’s single release will come after their hit performance at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Liverpool last weekend.
And they are set to return to Manchester later this year, for a huge show at the Co-Op Live stadium in October, while on tour.
Take Me Back will be available to stream this Friday, with I Quit set for release on June 20.
