Durand Bernarr

Durand Bernarr is an American singer-songwriter and producer. He frequently provides background vocals for neo-soul artist Erykah Badu and featured vocals for other artists such as Anderson Paak, Kaytranada, and The Internet. In 2019, Bernarr was a runner-up on the BET reality music competition The Next Big Thing. He released his latest album DUR& in 2020.[2][1]

Durand Bernarr
Also known asalcoholharmony
Born1987/1988 (age 32–33)[1]
Cleveland, Ohio
GenresR&B, soul, hip-hop, gospel, jazz
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, pianist, producer
InstrumentsVocals, piano, keyboard
Years active2008–present
LabelsDSING Records (Independent)
Associated acts
Websitehttps://www.durandbernarr.com/

Early life

Bernarr was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio.[3][4] He was raised an only child by his mother, a professional music teacher and vocal coach, and his father, an audio engineer who worked with for artists like Jay-Z, Beyonce, Rihanna, Jill Scott, and Whitney Houston. At 16, Bernarr accompanied his father on tour for Earth, Wind & Fire as a production assistant.[5] He attended church where his mother was the music director and his interest in music was further nurtured by the gospel music he heard there.[6] He cites Erykah Badu, Rick James and Little Richard as his biggest influences.[1]

Career

In 2008, Bernarr began to grow his digital fanbase by posting YouTube videos that incorporated singing, dancing, and comedic commentary. He also covered popular songs by artists like Kanye West, Amy Winehouse, and Gnarls Barkley.[5] In 2009, he released his first mixtape titled alcoholharmony: The MixT@pe consisting of studio versions of his popular covers from YouTube and original content via Bandcamp.[7]

In 2010, Bernarr released his second EP 8ight: The Stepson of Erykah Badu, a compilation of Badu covers and medleys.[8][5] Shortly after, Badu messaged him through Twitter and, having heard 8ight, she hired him as a background vocalist in her band Nedda Stella in 2011.[5] He has toured with her regularly in the years since, as recently as 2020.[1]

Bernarr collaborates with R&B and soul acts as a background or a featured vocalist. He has collaborated and performed with Ari Lennox, Kaytranada, The Foreign Exchange, The Internet, Sam Sparro, Thundercat, Knxwledge, Qveen Herby, and Teedra Moses.[6][7]

Bernarr competed on BET's 2019 reality music competition series The Next Big Thing.[2] He both rapped and sang, and eventually finished as one of the top three performers.[6]

He released the album DUR& (pronounced Durand) in September 2020.[9] In a review, Lucas Aubry of Numéro stated that the album "once again shows his incredible ability to go up in the highs like D’Angelo and down into the low and groovy frequencies of Nate Dogg in numerous rapped moments."[5]

Personal life

Bernarr resides in Los Angeles.[1] He is openly gay.[8]

Discography

Studio albums
  • Extra Stankin' Christmas (2012)
  • Dur& (2020)

EPs
  • alcoholharmony: The MixT@pe (2009)
  • 8ight: The Stepson of Erykah Badu (2010)
  • Sound Check (2016)
Title Year Album Ref
"Hang on 2 Your Love"

(Sam Sparro featuring Durand Bernarr)

 2013 Quantum Physical, Vol. 1 EP [10]
"Freefall"

(Kaytranada featuring Durand Bernarr)

 2019 Bubba [11]
"Self Aware"

( Qveen Herby featuring Durand Bernarr)

 2020 EP 8 [12]
"Facetime (Remix)"

( Ari Lennox featuring Durand Bernarr)

 2020 Shea Butter Baby (Remix EP) [13]


References
  1. "Durand Bernarr: 'I don't look at music like a competition, I'm doing me.'". Loverboy Magazine. 2020. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  2. Lynch, Joe. "4 Rising Artists You Should Know in 2019". Billboard. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  3. "Lena Waithe and AT&T Debut 4 Artists You Should Know". www.out.com. 2019-08-12. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  4. Rodriguez, Anthony (2016-10-12). "Durand Bernarr Comes Back 'Around' | SoulBounce | SoulBounce". www.soulbounce.com. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  5. Aubry, Lucas (2020-09-25). "Durand Bernarr, le phénomène repéré par Erykah Badu sur Twitter". Numero.com. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
  6. Street, Mikelle (2019-10-30). "This Viral Singer Turns Gospel Into Bops About Fuckboys and Weed". Out. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  7. "Durand Bernarr Is Soul Music's Best Kept Secret". Sound of Life. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  8. Francis, Glendon. "9 LGBTQ Artists to Discover During Black History Month". Billboard. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  9. Clark, Kevin L. "Kaash Paige Introduces Essence's Official Cuffing SZN Opener Playlist". Essence. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  10. "Sam Sparro & Durand Bernarr Give Us Something To 'Hang On 2'". www.soulbounce.com. 2014-02-05. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  11. "Encore: On 'BUBBA,' Kaytranada Captures Dance Music's Central Tenet". NPR.org. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  12. "Sam Smith, MUNA, & 6 More New Songs by LGBTQ+ Artists You Can't Miss". www.pride.com. 2020-07-31. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  13. "Ari Lennox drops 'Shea Butter Baby Remix EP' with Doja Cat, Smino and Durand Bernarr - Music News". KVSP Power 103.5. 2020-03-27. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
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