Producer/vocalist/songwriter JMSN makes songs that are equal parts energetic and emotional, calling on classic funk, soul, and even some indie influences to land on a unique kind of forward-thinking R&B style. JMSN's sound has taken many different forms, moving from his early roots in pop bands to the moody, spaced-out tones of his self-titled 2014 album, to various roles in collaborations with big artists like Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, and Domo Genesis, to the clash of experimental production and organic neo-soul instrumentation on his 2023 album Soft Spot. JMSN was born Christian Berishaj in Dallas, but grew up in Detroit, and quickly developed a fascination with music and performance. He started recording his own music at age 12 and by the time he was 18 he'd gone through various bands and projects, including recording an album as Love Arcade on which he wrote and performed every sound. Love Arcade was eventually signed to Atlantic and released a self-titled album in 2006, on which Berishaj was the sole performer. A touring band was assembled around the project, but none of the members ever played on any recordings and the group broke up after three years. Following Love Arcade, Berishaj relocated to Los Angeles and worked briefly under the moniker Christian TV, licensing songs for various films and television shows, and signing a deal with Universal Motown Records. The label folded and Berishaj again reconfigured, taking on the name JMSN and producing more R&B-inspired music -- a decided step away from the pop leanings of previous projects. He self-released his debut, Priscilla, in early 2012, earning high praise from the music press and his contemporaries. During this time, he was also active behind the scenes on some substantial commercial hits, providing backing vocals for songs on Kendrick Lamar's groundbreaking 2012 album Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City, and also contributing to tracks by J.Cole, Tyga, Kaytranada, and others. He followed this the next year with the Pllaje EP and a lengthy tour. JMSN spent much of 2014 prepping his next full-length, a self-titled set which arrived in December of that year. 2016 would prove to be a prolific year for Berishaj, who first released a jazzy new JMSN album (It Is) in May, followed just a few months later by his debut album as Pearl, another alter ego, on his own White Room Records, as well as appearing on a track with Domo Genesis. Working quickly, he returned in the spring of 2017 with the lush synth-soul single "Where Do U Go" and its follow-up, "Drinkin'," both of which appeared on his fourth JMSN album, Whatever Makes U Happy, in April of that year. 2018's '80's-indebted Velvet was his next release, and JMSN added a string quartet to his live band and recorded the 2019 concert set Live at Water Village. Their 2021 album Heals Me and 2023's Soft Spot were both steeped in the instrumentation and production values of classic soul-funk. - Biography by Fred Thomas