JMSN AKA Christian Berishaj is the pop-hybrid of cool, known best for silk-laden vocals and pulling off some pretty intense dance moves. He's a storyteller; delving into personal diary-entries of dark obsessions and creep lust, pinning them over some pained melodies and melancholic beats. His sophomore effort The Blue Album, out now on his own White Room label is nothing less than pristine. Being crowned an indie R&B maestro is one thing, but when it comes to collabs this guy has it dialled. Working with artists Kendrick Lamar, Kastle, Kaytranada, Ta-ku, Sango, and Ab Soul, he's forever going against the grain of the overcooked pop music that's flooding the airwaves.We caught up with JMSN to talk about his Detroit roots, the Aussie music scene, and where he sees himself (and his beard) in the near future.THUMP: How did growing up in the Motor City influence your music?
JMSN: Too many ways to count. It's a part of me and who I am. I realize that the more I go to more foreign places. Our surroundings really affect our lives and therefore influence what were doing, which for me, was music.What is your most valuable tool in creating your sound?
My life and how I live it can not and will not be recreated in its unique way. That's the unique tool I use to create my sound. For example if you're doing a cover of someone else's song every note for note, it will still end up different because you are you and they are them. I utilize that tool.You were part of a few different projects before JMSN, how did you get to where you are today musically?Living life and growing with it. It's a crazy journey this life. Wisdom comes with the days you spend still alive, if you want it to. Even if you choose to ignore it, I feel like it's always being laid out in front of you. Who knows though, I could be way off. Maybe this is just my journey and everything is not connected. I believe it is though, so therefore it is. But this is a whole other conversation about perception and the power of the mind I could ramble on about and start my 'Nike' speech.You've worked with some hip-hop heavies in your illustrious career, do you find melodically that's a better fit for you?
That's a good question. I don't think I've ever thought about it though. I did listen to a lot of rap growing up and I do feel the way I approach things is a little hip-hop when it comes to production, mixing and whatever else. I feel like I wanna take the best parts of everything though. I'm a product of all my influences. Music is music. Whether hip-hop or otherwise.Christian TV. What was that about?
Hahahahahaha. It was about learning. It was a part of my journey. Just a necessary thing for me to find what I wanted to do. It was me listening to a lot of other people that thought they knew the "formula". So glad I went through that to learn that there is no "formula" and life is about doing what makes you happy and what you love. The positive things come with that when you do it.Have you ever thought about dropping the beard or is that part of the JMSN trademark?
100%. I didn't always have the beard and I won't always have the beard. I do what i feel.You write, you sing, you produce, you play the instruments. What do you do when you're not making music?
Stress about the fact that I'm not making music and somebody else is.What are you working on now?
Working on my new album. Tracking drums, guitar and bass next week. Still a lot of work left to get it done but it's at an exciting stage.What ever happened to the Ab-Soul & JMSN Unit 6 collab album?
It's on my computer. I could see it coming out at some point. Just gotta be the right time.JMSN on SoundCloud // Facebook // Twitter
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JMSN: Too many ways to count. It's a part of me and who I am. I realize that the more I go to more foreign places. Our surroundings really affect our lives and therefore influence what were doing, which for me, was music.What is your most valuable tool in creating your sound?
My life and how I live it can not and will not be recreated in its unique way. That's the unique tool I use to create my sound. For example if you're doing a cover of someone else's song every note for note, it will still end up different because you are you and they are them. I utilize that tool.You were part of a few different projects before JMSN, how did you get to where you are today musically?Living life and growing with it. It's a crazy journey this life. Wisdom comes with the days you spend still alive, if you want it to. Even if you choose to ignore it, I feel like it's always being laid out in front of you. Who knows though, I could be way off. Maybe this is just my journey and everything is not connected. I believe it is though, so therefore it is. But this is a whole other conversation about perception and the power of the mind I could ramble on about and start my 'Nike' speech.You've worked with some hip-hop heavies in your illustrious career, do you find melodically that's a better fit for you?
That's a good question. I don't think I've ever thought about it though. I did listen to a lot of rap growing up and I do feel the way I approach things is a little hip-hop when it comes to production, mixing and whatever else. I feel like I wanna take the best parts of everything though. I'm a product of all my influences. Music is music. Whether hip-hop or otherwise.
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Hahahahahaha. It was about learning. It was a part of my journey. Just a necessary thing for me to find what I wanted to do. It was me listening to a lot of other people that thought they knew the "formula". So glad I went through that to learn that there is no "formula" and life is about doing what makes you happy and what you love. The positive things come with that when you do it.Have you ever thought about dropping the beard or is that part of the JMSN trademark?
100%. I didn't always have the beard and I won't always have the beard. I do what i feel.You write, you sing, you produce, you play the instruments. What do you do when you're not making music?
Stress about the fact that I'm not making music and somebody else is.What are you working on now?
Working on my new album. Tracking drums, guitar and bass next week. Still a lot of work left to get it done but it's at an exciting stage.What ever happened to the Ab-Soul & JMSN Unit 6 collab album?
It's on my computer. I could see it coming out at some point. Just gotta be the right time.JMSN on SoundCloud // Facebook // Twitter