IJ QUINN

"The follow-up to IJ Quinn‘s 2009 debut brings an edgier core sound to his pop/soul blend. With Chuck Gladfelter (Dovetail Joint) still at the production helm, Young Soul EP narrows in on IJ Quinn’s penchant for mid-to-fast tempo pop/rock melodies not unlike the brighter pop sides of Maroon 5 and Gavin DeGraw. While the versatility of songwriting styles that made this EP’s predecessor, When They Want It The Most, so endearing is absent here, the concentration of style seems to bring even stronger pop/rock grooves on Young Love. At just 24, IJ Quinn is a name to watch the charts and writing credits for. Young Soul EP will be available for purchase through iTunes soon." - GROOVE LOVES MELODY

"Quinn's music is decidedly pop, and mainstream without being formulaic. Singing in a high pitch, like a young Michael Jackson, he pulls from a large spectrum of styles. Much of today's R&B is laced with attitude, but Quinn makes music that's fun, energizing it by using lots of instrumentation and soaring choruses. It has an '80s feel without being obvious." - "Ultimately the music represents the person at the heart of making it, a performer from a farm who took his roots to the city and shaped them into something fresh." - WILMINGTON STAR-NEWS

It wouldn't take you long to realize that singer/songwriter IJ Quinn isn't from around here.

"I'm from a very small town in eastern North Carolina called Warsaw," he said. "My family were farmers, population 2,000 back home."

The soulful musician grew up not only listening to R&B artists like Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, but also dabbling in music himself.

"I started playing piano when I was 3," he said. Quinn picked up the guitar in his teens and soon was crafting songs of his own. "Since I graduated from high school, I've started taking music more seriously and have been trying to make a career out of it."

Quinn posted some of his music on MySpace, where his future manager discovered him. Now he has recorded an album.

"I [recorded] a couple tracks [in North Carolina], then decided to record a full-length album, so I packed up and moved to Chicago to make my record," he said, adding that he moved in January 2008. "It was the worst experience in my life weather-wise, but in terms of the recording process, it was one of the best things that ever happened.

"There are a couple of songs on the record that were inspired by Chicago weather."

Now 22, Quinn's debut album, "When They Want it the Most," drops Saturday. To celebrate, Quinn will be performing the record in its entirety at Schubas.

"This is going to be the first time that I'll be performing with a live horn section," he said. "It's going to be awesome. I'm really excited about it."

Quinn credits his family and fans for his success, but thanks online fans who helped his MySpace page get noticed.

"It's what I love, it's my passion. ... It's just what I want to be. No," he said. "It's what I'm going to be." - CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Lordy, every now and then a hot, blond — and, c'mon, he's gotta have blue eyes — tenor bops onto the scene and has ... actual ... soul. IJ Quinn sounds like Taylor Hanson circa 1999, but without all the kiddie anti-cred (whew). Hit his MySpace page and give it a coupla minutes — brother can sing. So if you like "Idols" but want something with a little more meat on its bones and a few nods to actual rock and soul traditions, check out Quinn celebrating the release of his debut disc, "When They Want It The Most," by playing it in its entirety at 10 p.m. Saturday at Schubas. Tickets are $8 and include a signed copy of the disc. - CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

Picture this: you’re a 22-year-old self-taught musician, celebrating the release of your debut album at one of Chicago’s top rock clubs, and you’ve got a model warming up the crowd for you. Welcome to the life of IJ Quinn, who must be feeling pretty good about moving to Chicago from his home state of North Carolina. He’ll show off his mix of modern pop and old-school soul at Schubas, playing the new release in its entirety along with an eight-piece backing band. Leading off the show is America’s Next Top Model contestant Sarah VonderHaar, who’d like to be known more for her music than her drama-filled stint on national TV. We're not counting on it – but we do expect a good-looking crowd to be on hand. - CENTERSTAGE CHICAGO