Let your mind drift to the currents JMSN creates. Born Christian Berishaj, the indie R&B artist’s music is upbeat, but not to the point of a rave. After speaking to JMSN, I can attest he has the down to earth attitude to match his music. He just loves what he does. I sat down to talk about his tour and his music ahead of his show on Wednesday at Canopy Club.
Smile Politely: So to jumping right into the exciting stuff: how has the tour for The Blue Album been going so far? And what kind of reception are you receiving at your shows? Do you have a favorite show from this tour?
Christian Berishaj: Good. It has been awesome. All of my shows have been pretty awesome, with the exception of a few [laughs]. You know, there isn’t a specific show that sticks out as being the best. I am just thankful that people are coming out.
SP: What kind of concerts do you like to put on? For me, I like to go see events that are pretty chill, where the music is the main focus.
Berishaj: Yeah, it is just performing songs, I guess. You know it is just me playing the songs. This is always a hard question to answer.
SP: I noticed that you have bounced around a few different record labels. What that was like, going from a bigger record label to one that you made yourself? What is the difference between a big record label and a small one?
Berishaj: Well, definitely money. You don’t have the money that a big label has, but you know you also don’t have somebody, or a lot of people, telling you what to do. And you can decide when you want to release things. There is a lot more artistic freedom. As well as strategic business freedom. The only limitation that you really have is that you don’t have as much money to spend as you do with a major record label. But you figure it out.
SP: Your earlier stuff was more pop-rock/electronic, and your more recent stuff is more of an R&B style. Would you mind talking a little bit about what motivated such a change?
Berishaj: I am growing as a person, and evolving. So my next record won’t be the same as the record that I came out with this year. Every record that I make is evolving and different than the last one, because I am growing and changing as a person.
SP: I really like your music videos. What are you trying to put out there with them?
Berishaj: I don’t think I am trying to tell anyone how to be. I am not judging anyone with my music videos or anything like that. It’s just that I wanted to do something different visual this record. And yeah, it does have a dark humor to all of it. But it doesn’t have anything to do with cutting anyone else down or telling people what’s cool.
SP: Yeah, it just seems to me that you put a lot of stuff in there for people to play around with in their heads.
Berishaj: For sure, and everyone has their own take on it. So I just leave it up for their own interpretation of it.
SP: In The Blue Album, do you play all of the instruments and do all of the producing?
Berishaj: I produce all of my records and play on them. I don’t play drums or bass that well, but most of the time it ends up getting on there. And then it gets redone by people who are better at those parts.
SP: So what is it like having that much control over a song or the album? It just seems like that would be really intense.
Berishaj: Yeah, it is very intense and stressful. But I think about it all the time and that if I had someone else do it, it would take a lot longer because I would end up being super picky and it wouldn’t end up how I wanted it, so I would end up just doing it myself. It is a double-edged sword. You know if you want to do something you figure out how to do it, no matter how much time it takes.
SP: When you are sitting down to write a new song or work on a new album, how much influence do other people have in your creative process? Do you bounce ideas off of other people, or is it pretty much just a “you thing?”
Berishaj: Most of the time I am in there by myself. I want to be in a safe place where nobody is judging me.
SP: That makes sense. Do you have any soft dates for any new stuff you will be putting out after this tour is over?
Berishaj: Next year for sure. I am working on some new stuff right now. I just don’t know the exact date.
SP: In closing, what type of music or artists are you listening to that fans of yours might enjoy?
Berishaj: Allan Stone. He’s great.
SP: All right, well thanks so much for taking the time to do this.
Berishaj: It was no problem and I will see you tomorrow.
JMSN plays Canopy Club tonight with Boycut. More info and tickets found here.