Author: Duke Denham
Header photo courtesy of JMSN’s Twitter
As I’m sure you all know, the time of the quarter for frantic, last-minute project work with incompetent group members, face smothering in skyscraper-sized piles of homework and essays, and preparation for the insurmountable wave of finals is upon us. This wonderful time is also known as Dead Week. However, I have a cure that might aid your Dead Week sickness. Consider checking out Michigan-born R&B singer-songwriter JMSN right in the midst of the week. It’ll be a time of sultry singing and lively grooves that’ll get your heart pumping again.
JMSN, whose birthname is Christian Berishaj, has always displayed an immense amount of passion and drive for sharing and creating emotionally meaningful music. In his early days, Berishaj sent demos of his pop-rock/electropop band Love Arcade to various record labels, eventually landing a deal with Atlantic Records in 2005. Fast-forward to the present, Christian has already released six albums under the JMSN name in only seven years, all on his self-founded record label White Room Records. The roster includes JMSN himself (of course) and Pearl, his dreamy production project that serves as an additional creative outlet.
From constantly crafting the next JMSN album to managing his independent label to providing features for artists like Ta-ku, The Game, and Ab-Soul, Christian’s work ethic speaks for itself. But the music does too. JMSN is a jack of all trades when it comes to his music, completely unrestrained to any specific sound. Early songs like “Addicted” from his 2014 self-titled album feature hazy, spacey synthesizers, trippy vocal sampling, and fervent lyrics on the addictive power of love. His recent album, Velvet, transitions more into funk territory. Songs like “So Badly” showcase groovy basslines, passionate, steamy vocals, and rich, gorgeous violin sections.
No matter what genre he’s working in, JMSN always puts in the work to conquer it and remold it into something that embodies his character. His deep appreciation and fervor for music is something that will be apparent in his live performance at The Crocodile on December 5th. LA based R&B singer and 88rising signee August 08 will be joining JMSN to guarantee a night of sensual yet powerful music. Tickets for the show can be found here. Show starts at 8:00. Hope you can come and escape the dread of Dead Week!
Be sure to also follow JMSN on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
DUKE DENHAM | Been running off 2 hours of sleeps for about 18 hours now | KXSU Music Reporter