Promoting the spirit of Unity, Diversity, and Equality, Hemispheres features openly gay members Rob Shinno (guitar, vocoder) and Don Bowman (vocals, sax), as well as Mike McQuilken (drums), Nathan Brown (bass), and Max Zape (keys). The band draws on rock, pop, jazz, fusion, and metal for inspiration and has played at prestigious events such as the Newport Beach Jazz Festival.
Their 2020 album American Dreams includes guest players like Grammy winner Tommy Aros (Fattburger), Rebecca Jade (2020 SDMA Artist of the Year), Leonard Patton, trumpeter Derek Cannon, and a guitar solo from Patrick Yandall. Local jazz star Peter Sprague served as engineer and mixer, and the album was mastered by Bernie Grundman (Steely Dan, Michael Jackson, Prince).
Early 2021 saw the release of a new music video for their track “America,” from American Dreams. Using social distance precautions, the video was shot in early September 2020 at local Studio West. An American Dreams collectors CD edition was released with a 16 page pamphlet of liner notes, images, and lyrics.
Tracks from American Dreams, nominated Best World Music Album at the San Diego Music Awards, scored over 400,000 YouTube views and streams. They booked three nights at SXSW 2022.
Their album Unity dropped July 1 2022, featuring Peter Sprague engineering and arranging, with a live string quartet.