JIP

Alternative

Shift by JIP w/ Shaun Hague

JIP is a three piece rock band from the Chicagoland area.

Jim Gwynn: Singer / Songwriter / Guitar

Joe D’onofrio: Bass

Mike Charbonneau: Percussion

JIP started off as a solo project by Jim Gwynn in 2001 and has expanded to become a 3 piece rock band in 2012.

My name is Jim and I run this ship…..Here’s some background on JIP.

My influences are heavily based on the variety of 90's alternative rock musicians. The influences include Ben Folds, Local H, and Tracy Bonham. I've been to nearly 1000 live concerts so you'll also hear a variety of genres while listening to JIP.

Up until 2011, I’d been a solo musician for over 10 years making home recordings for my own pleasure. I recorded five full length records before hitting professional studios in 2011 to release JIP: Year X. The recording and release of Year X for this project was the realization of a dream. I was able to make my signature album summing up the past 10 years of my home recordings. The ability to work with friends to create Year X in a professional setting gave structure to my passion with JIP. My set purpose with JIP has always been to have simple songs with deep meanings in each track which is the writing process I used coming into recording Year X. That writing process meshed with the talents of (Spencer Watson, Brent Fatig, Andy Gerber, and Mark Rubel) made that record special. The cherry on top being the ability to work with my favorite Grammy nominated artist for the final track on the album.

The release of JIP: Year X in May 2011 came to great response. Year X received strong reviews from local and national outlets. The album found radio play in 10 states and 4 countries with the track, “Not Alone”. The song, “Voices” found its place in the world of politics receiving response from news outlets and eight Governors.

The response spawned a successful double acoustic tour with Spencer Watson of Edison and then started the spark to make JIP a 3 piece band. JIP was able to play at venues such as Double Door, Cubby Bear, Subterranean, Goose Island Wrigleyville, Six Flags Great America, Elbo Room, etc.

Which brings us to now…

JIP currently is a three piece rock band with Mike Charbonneau (percussion) and Joe D’onofrio (bass). JIP is working on a full length release to follow-up Year X currently at Million Yen Studios in Chicago. The full length is set to be released in the winter of 2012.

In the process of working on the JIP full length album I took a strong push forward as a songwriter. JIP will be releasing the EP Sparks, Flames & Names in 2012. Sparks, Flames & Names is a seven track EP featuring seven spectacular artists on each track. Sparks, Flames & Names came to be a “breakup” album of sorts about the span of a relationship.

Sparks, Flames & Names was digitally released August 14th, 2012.

The official record release show for Sparks, Flames & Names was October 12th, 2012 at Hard Rock Chicago.