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JMSN

American singer and songwriter

Image credit is listed at the end of this article.

Christian Berishaj, known professionally as JMSN (pronounced "Jameson"), is an Albanian-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.

01Early 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.

JMSN in 2012
JMSN in 2012

02Career

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 (as JMSN) 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.

In 2025, his 2023 song "Love Me" was memed by various Internet users, who compared it to Drake song intros.

On October 14, 2025, JMSN released the album ...it's only about u if you think it is. On White Room Records. This album would lean into Detroit rock with grunge elements.

03Artistry

Berishaj has cited Whitney Houston, Prince, Phil Collins, Fiona Apple, and Radiohead as influences on his music.

04Discography

Studio albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
Heatseekers

†Priscilla†
  • Released: January 11, 2012
  • Label: White Room Records
  • Format: CD, digital download, LP
,
†Pllajë†
  • Released: November 5, 2013
  • Label: White Room Records
  • Format: CD, digital download, LP
,
JMSN (Blue Album)
  • Released: December 9, 2014
  • Label: White Room Records
  • Format: CD, digital download, LP
18
It Is.
  • Released: May 6, 2016
  • Label: White Room Records
  • Format: CD, digital download, LP
20
Whatever Makes U Happy
  • Released: April 28, 2017
  • Label: White Room Records
  • Format: CD, digital download, LP
,
Velvet
  • Released: September 21, 2018
  • Label: White Room Records
  • Format: CD, digital download, LP
,
Heals Me
  • Released: September 3, 2021
  • Label: White Room Records
  • Format: CD, digital download, LP
,
Soft Spot
  • Released: October 11, 2023
  • Label: White Room Records
  • Format: CD, digital download, LP
,
...it's only about u if you think it is.
  • Released: October 14, 2025
  • Label: White Room Records
  • Format: CD, cassette, digital download, LP
,
", " denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory.

EPs

List of extended-plays
Title Album details
Live at Red Bull Studios EP
  • Released: May 14, 2013
  • Label: White Room Records
  • Format: Digital download
Love & Pain EP
  • Released: August 27, 2013
  • Label: White Room Records
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles as lead artist, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Alone" 2011 †Priscilla†
"Love & Pain" 2012
"You're Gone"
(with Ab-Soul)
2013 Unit 6
"Walk Away" †Pllajë†
"Cruel Intentions" 2016 It Is.
"Most of All"
"Hypnotized"
"Drinkin'" 2017 Whatever Makes U Happy
"Where Do U Go"
"Angelica (B-Side)"
"So Badly" 2018 Velvet
"Talk Is Cheap"
"Christmas Time Is Here" 2020 Non-album single
"Rolling Stone" 2021 Heals Me
"Love 2 U"
"Cherry Pop" 2023 Soft Spot
"Love Me"
"Soft Spot"

As a featured artist

List of featuring singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Make You Stay"
(Kastle featuring JMSN)
2013 Kastle
"Daydreams"
(Sadistik x Kno featuring JMSN)
2015 Phantom Limbs
"Getaway"(NIve featuring JMSN) 2018 Non-album single

Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" 2012 Kendrick Lamar Good Kid, M.A.A.D City
"The Art of Peer Pressure"
"Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst"
"Real"
"Pray" Game, J. Cole Jesus Piece
"Make It Last" 2013 Ta-Ku Make It Last
"All We Do" Kaytranada Kaytra Todo
"Late" Beat Culture Forgive
"Drive Fast, Live Young" Tyga Hotel California
"Death From Above" Kastle Kastle
"Separate" Deniro Farrar The Patriarch II
"Affection" Sango North
"Slo Swerve" 14KT, Buff1 Nickel & Dimed
"IV" 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" Ro Spit, 14KT, Royce da 5'9", DJ Assault

05Videography

Music videos

Year Video Director
"Girl I Used To Know" JMSN
"Hotel"
"Alone"
2012 "Something" JMSN
"Fallin" JMSN / Kenneth Brown
"Let U Go" / Priscilla Trilogy David Yarovesky
"Jameson" Green Glow Films
2014 "The One" JMSN
"Thing U Miss"
Watch videos about JMSNExplainers and documentaries on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article JMSN, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

Images, from Wikimedia Commons:

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