Biography
Christian Berishaj, a producer and songwriter, entered the world in Dallas yet spent his formative years in Detroit, where an early passion for music and live performance took hold. He began capturing his own material at twelve, and by eighteen had already cycled through multiple bands and side projects, one of which yielded a full album under the name Love Arcade that he composed and played in its entirety. Atlantic Records eventually signed Love Arcade, issuing the self-titled album in 2006 with Berishaj as its only musician; a touring ensemble was later assembled, though none of its members contributed to any recordings, and the endeavor dissolved after three years.
Berishaj next moved to Los Angeles and briefly operated as Christian TV, placing tracks in films and television programs while securing a contract with Universal Motown Records. When the label shuttered, he adopted the name JMSN and shifted toward R&B-oriented work that diverged from his earlier pop direction. His debut album, Priscilla, appeared as a self-release in early 2012 and drew strong critical and peer acclaim; the following year he issued the Pllaje EP and embarked on an extensive tour. Much of 2014 was devoted to preparing The Blue Album, which surfaced that December.
The year 2016 proved especially active: in May he unveiled the jazz-inflected JMSN album It Is, then a few months afterward delivered his first release under the Pearl moniker via his own White Room Records. Returning in spring 2017, he offered the expansive synth-soul single “Where Do U Go” and its successor “Drinkin’,” both of which featured on the fourth JMSN album, Whatever Makes U Happy, issued that April. For the subsequent project he augmented his touring group with a string quartet and captured the resulting performances on the 2019 live album Live at Water Village.
Berishaj next moved to Los Angeles and briefly operated as Christian TV, placing tracks in films and television programs while securing a contract with Universal Motown Records. When the label shuttered, he adopted the name JMSN and shifted toward R&B-oriented work that diverged from his earlier pop direction. His debut album, Priscilla, appeared as a self-release in early 2012 and drew strong critical and peer acclaim; the following year he issued the Pllaje EP and embarked on an extensive tour. Much of 2014 was devoted to preparing The Blue Album, which surfaced that December.
The year 2016 proved especially active: in May he unveiled the jazz-inflected JMSN album It Is, then a few months afterward delivered his first release under the Pearl moniker via his own White Room Records. Returning in spring 2017, he offered the expansive synth-soul single “Where Do U Go” and its successor “Drinkin’,” both of which featured on the fourth JMSN album, Whatever Makes U Happy, issued that April. For the subsequent project he augmented his touring group with a string quartet and captured the resulting performances on the 2019 live album Live at Water Village.
Albums
Singles
