JMSN
Christian Berishaj, known professionally as JMSN , is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. Born in Dallas and raised in Detroit, JMSN has been an influential figure in the contemporary R&B and alternative music scenes.
Early life
Berishaj was born in Dallas, Texas, and grew up in the Detroit suburb of Eastpointe, Michigan. Berishaj is of partial Albanian descent from his father, who is from Albania.Career
Before JMSN
While still in high school, Berishaj started a band originally called Snowhite. This group morphed into Love Arcade, which got a record label with Atlantic Records in 2005. They put out one album Love Arcade before they broke up. From 2009-2011, Berishaj released songs under the pseudonym, Christian TV. His songs 1, 2, 3 Turn Around and Victoria's Secret were included in the compilation album Girlfriend Pop in 2009, with the former also being included on the soundtrack of the 2009 film Fired Up!. Furthermore, he released the single When She Turns 18 in 2010 and the singles I'm In Love and Love 2 Baby in 2011, with When She Turns 18 and Love 2 Baby both receiving a music video.2012–2015
Berishaj started his own label, White Room Records and adopted the moniker JMSN. He released his debut album, Priscilla on January 11, 2012. Berishaj wrote and produced the alternative R&B album, straying from his pop-rock/electropop roots. In the album, he pursues darker emotional themes over melancholic melodies and beats that The Guardian described as "spaced out" and compared to The Weeknd. Self-directed videos for "Alone", "Hotel" and "Something" were released to accompany the album's release, while a video for "Girl I Used to Know" was released under his previous stage name. In April, R&B singer Usher told music magazine NME that JMSN was his "favorite new act".In August 2012, Berishaj produced "Nibiru" for West Coast rapper Ab-Soul. Subsequently, in October of the same year, Berishaj announced that he and the rapper would be releasing a collaborative project together. The lead single for Ab-Soul and JMSN's collaborative album, Unit 6, titled "You're Gone", features vocals from both artists, as well as production from Berishaj. Recently, Unit 6 was revealed to be shelved due to business disagreements which may or may not make the light of day.
After the success of Priscilla, Berishaj released his album Pllaje, on November 5, 2013. This garnered him more acclaim in the community, and he gained recognition in the music industry. Berishaj began collaborating with other artists, like J. Cole and The Game, while releasing Pllaje's visuals through his YouTube channel for: "Love Myself", "The One" and "Thing U Miss". In 2013, his North American tour took him to over 20 cities where he both opened and headlined the shows.
On December 9, 2014 Berishaj released his third album The Blue Album. In 2015, he toured to promote the album.
2016–present
On March 1, 2016, Berishaj released a soulful and jazzy single, "Cruel Intentions". The release of this song was followed by the singles: "Most of All", "Hypnotized," and a Snoh Aalegra remix of "Cruel Intentions". The first three songs were included on JMSN's third album, It Is. which was released on May 6, 2016.In August 2016, Berishaj revealed that he is the elusive artist Pearl, shortly after dropping Pearl's new album, Closer. In a handwritten letter posted to his social media, he wrote, "I started Pearl to have another creative outlet besides JMSN. White Room Records is about freedom. Be what you want to be."
On April 28, 2017, JMSN released the album Whatever Makes U Happy on White Room Records.
On September 21, 2018, JMSN released the album Velvet on White Room Records.
On September 3, 2021, JMSN released the album Heals Me on White Room Records.
On October 11, 2023, JMSN released the album Soft Spot On White Room Records
At the end of 2024, the single and title track for his previous album, "Soft Spot", gained attention on social media through a viral snippet of the song's music video. On December 2, a remix version with the rapper Sada Baby was released.
Artistry
Berishaj has cited Whitney Houston, Prince, Phil Collins, Fiona Apple, and Radiohead as influences on his music.Discography
EPs
| Title | Album details |
| Live at Red Bull Studios EP |
|
| Love & Pain EP |
Singles
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Album |
| "Alone" | 2011 | †Priscilla† |
| "Love & Pain" | 2012 | †Priscilla† |
| "You're Gone" | 2013 | Unit 6 |
| "Walk Away" | 2013 | †Pllajë† |
| "Cruel Intentions" | 2016 | It Is. |
| "Most of All" | 2016 | It Is. |
| "Hypnotized" | 2016 | It Is. |
| "Drinkin'" | 2017 | Whatever Makes U Happy |
| "Where Do U Go" | 2017 | Whatever Makes U Happy |
| "Angelica " | 2017 | Whatever Makes U Happy |
| "So Badly" | 2018 | Velvet |
| "Talk Is Cheap" | 2018 | Velvet |
| "Christmas Time Is Here" | 2020 | |
| "Rolling Stone" | 2021 | Heals Me |
| "Love 2 U" | 2021 | Heals Me |
| "Cherry Pop" | 2023 | Soft Spot |
| "Love Me" | 2023 | Soft Spot |
| "Soft Spot" | 2023 | Soft Spot |
As a featured artist
| Title | Year | Album |
| "Make You Stay" | 2013 | Kastle |
| "Daydreams" | 2015 | Phantom Limbs |
| "Getaway" | 2018 | Non-album single |
Guest appearances
| Title | Year | Other artist | Album |
| "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" | 2012 | Kendrick Lamar | Good Kid, M.A.A.D City |
| "The Art of Peer Pressure" | 2012 | Kendrick Lamar | Good Kid, M.A.A.D City |
| "Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst" | 2012 | Kendrick Lamar | Good Kid, M.A.A.D City |
| "Real" | 2012 | Kendrick Lamar | Good Kid, M.A.A.D City |
| "Pray" | 2012 | Game, J. Cole | Jesus Piece |
| "Make It Last" | 2013 | Ta-Ku | Make It Last |
| "All We Do" | 2013 | Kaytranada | Kaytra Todo |
| "Late" | 2013 | Beat Culture | Forgive |
| "Drive Fast, Live Young" | 2013 | Tyga | Hotel California |
| "Death From Above" | 2013 | Kastle | Kastle |
| "Separate" | 2013 | Deniro Farrar | The Patriarch II |
| "Affection" | 2013 | Sango | North |
| "Slo Swerve" | 2013 | 14KT, Buff1 | Nickel & Dimed |
| "IV" | 2013 | Blue Sky Black Death | Glaciers |
| "W.R.O.H." | 2014 | Ab-Soul | These Days... |
| "Worry" | 2015 | Evil Needle | Reminisce |
| "My Own" | 2016 | Domo Genesis | GENESiS |
| "I Believe" | 2017 | Ro Spit, 14KT | RSXGLD |
| "True" | 2017 | Ro Spit, 14KT, Royce da 5'9", DJ Assault | RSXGLD |
Videography
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
| "Girl I Used To Know" | JMSN | |
| "Hotel" | JMSN | |
| "Alone" | JMSN | |
| 2012 | "Something" | JMSN |
| 2012 | "Fallin" | JMSN / Kenneth Brown |
| 2012 | "Let U Go" / Priscilla Trilogy | David Yarovesky |
| 2012 | "Jameson" | Green Glow Films |
| 2014 | "The One" | JMSN |
| 2014 | "Thing U Miss" | JMSN |