American Bloomers Interview

American Bloomers are a California rock band formed in Los Angeles, featuring guitarist/vocalist Jaime Wyatt, guitarist/vocalist Jonathan Sheldon and bassist/vocalist Jane Sheldon.

The pop/harmonic/melodic rock sound of American Bloomers is described most often as "California Pop" or the "New California Sound".

The group is totally "L.A.", with a musical fragrance of Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, The Eagles and The Mamas & The Papas, though American Bloomers have a highly original appeal for 21st century music fans.

I was alerted to American Bloomers by recording industry insiders who informed me that the group strongly resonates with an uncommonly large audience demographic --- ages 14 to 54.

That, in itself, made the Los Angeles trio of singer/songwriters worth checking out.

Incognito, I attended a couple of the group's Southern California concert dates.  I was just about knocked to the floor by the tight instrumentation, the unbelievable harmonies and the unforgettable songwriting offered by the band.

How could three musicians, so young and beautiful, precisely portray the struggles of Middle Age, the angst of Teenage, the emotions of Womanhood and the frustrations of Manhood --- all in one song?

All three members of American Bloomers must surely be "old souls" in young bodies.

During the band's performances, I laughed, I cried, I reflected, and I was empowered by their music.  The entire emotional spectrum was covered and nothing was left out.

After such a deep connection, I became obsessed with getting to know the members of American Bloomers.

Jaime Wyatt, Jonathan Sheldon and Jane Sheldon were busy recording the group's upcoming album and had just wrapped a single, "Never Had The Chance", a song that is well-crafted for success on both the Pop and Adult Contemporary music charts.

Watching the Bloomers' music producer Alan Marino record the band in his studio "House of Hon" was a real treat, so I didn't want to interrupt the band's creative flow.  I blended with the acoustic walls and kept my questions to a minimum.  Here are some highlights:

Jonathan Sheldon is a songwriter, musician and vocalist whose first love is music, although his alter ego is an accomplished motion picture and documentary producer.

I was already familiar with Sheldon's company, Stand Media, and his work as a film producer on the Polish Brothers', The Smell of Success (Billy Bob Thornton and Téa Leoni) and Stay Cool (Winona Ryder and Hilary Duff).

Sheldon's latest film production is an infertility-themed documentary, My Future Baby.

It was obvious to me that Jonathan Sheldon is the member of American Bloomers whose brain is constantly on, thinking up new strategies (like a computer) on behalf of his creative projects.

"As far as American Bloomers as a group, our goal is to accurately reflect the feelings, harmonies and diversities that define what California is.  We are from California, not somewhere else.  We've been through it all here, and we share our blended perspectives together through our music," said Sheldon.

Jaime Wyatt is a songwriter, a guitarist, and the lead singer of American Bloomers.

A pop recording professional, Wyatt had already been with another record label when she met Jonathan and Jane Sheldon.

In contrast to Jonathan Sheldon's creative genius as a prolific film producer and songwriter, and to Jane Sheldon's strict musical training at the renowned Berklee College of Music, Jaime Wyatt was raised in a rock music family associated with legendary musicians like the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir.

"You might say that I was raised by hippies on rock and roll.  I wrote my first song at four years old and, from that point, I never looked back.  California's music industry is in my blood, man.  Music is my life.  It's all about the art and the expression of it," declared Wyatt.

The dark-haired Celtic beauty is every bit the Rock Star, but without the pomposity.  I really dig Jaime Wyatt, and I think she's a very hip role model for young, aspiring 'rock chicks'.

Jane Sheldon is an alumnus of the Berklee College of Music, an accomplished songwriter, singer, keyboardist and bassist for American Bloomers.

Talking with blonde bombshell Jane Sheldon was like hanging out with one of the legendary Go Go's or the Bangles --- but with a college degree in Music.  She's very "SoCal", sharp as a tack, and extremely cool.

Jane is Jonathan Sheldon's sister, so the siblings are kind of like another famous Los Angeles harmonic brother and sister act, the Carpenters, but more able to produce their great harmonies "live" with Jaime Wyatt's third voice.

"Jonathan and I have been singing and writing songs together forever but, once we heard Jaime Wyatt sing, we both knew that we were destined to be a trio.  We are amazed at how seamlessly our three voices blend, and audiences really love our reinvention of the harmonic California Sound," said Sheldon.

Enjoy the following video to the band's great single, "Never Had The Chance" --- a fantastic pop song.

It was fun to hang out in the studio with Jamie Wyatt, Jane Sheldon and Jonathan Sheldon of American Bloomers before their inevitable world tours and Grammy Awards.  Great musicians and individuals, indeed.