Emerging Star Durand Bernarr Redefines R&B With Bold Bravado

In honor of Black Music Month, we’re celebrating effervescent artists like soulful supernova Durand Bernarr who continues to redefine R&B because the boldest ‘dangerous b*tch’ on the rise in 2024.

Unapologetically campy with a theatrical aptitude, Bernarr is considered one of one in a monolithic music trade afraid of coloring exterior the traces which he does loudly and proudly along with his music.

In accordance with his bio, the proficient efficiency artist, vocalist, producer, and songwriter “combines parts of Little Richard and Rick James” in his fearless artistry (described as “Gangster Musical Theatre”) which outlined his now-viral look on NPR’s Tiny Desk.

Channeling beloved Proud Household character Bobby Proud, Durand cemented himself as considered one of music’s most unusual performers whereas introducing new followers to his energy-elevating music headlined by breakout hit “Mango Butter”–a silky-smooth ode to being a nasty b*tch and that n****.

Previous to his look on NPR’s standard collection, the Cleveland-native shined on standout Kaytranada jam “Freefall” and joined Erykah Badu on her “Unfollow Me” tour as a background vocalist who carried out as a gap act in three of the tour’s 25 stops.

Most lately, Durand confirmed off his hilarious persona and signature showmanship in a very unserious audition to pay tribute to Usher at this 12 months’s BET Awards.

He additionally introduced the Rollin’ With the Homies Skate Expertise—an upcoming 6-city skate tour starting on July sixth in Dallas, TX at Broadway Skateland and ending on August 1st in Chicago, IL at Fleetwood Skating Rink.

Extra cities embody Houston, TX (July ninth at Pearwood Skate Middle), Washington, D.C. (July eleventh at Cavalier Household Skating Middle), Brooklyn, NY (July thirteenth at Xanadu Curler Arts), and Atlanta, GA (July twenty fourth at Golden Glide Skating Rink).

Along with the skate tour, Bernarr launched his newest visible EP En Route now obtainable on all streaming platforms.

Distributed by Create Music Group, En Route is described as a “genre-bending compilation of Durand’s musical influences” that “serves as a transitional bridge between his sophomore album Wanderlust and his forthcoming solo and collaborative releases, together with Adi Oasis’s “Le Départ” (the prolonged model), and “Bizarre” off Grammy-winning Kaytranada’s album Timeless.”

With boundless star energy and a mode all his personal, the rising queer icon is primed to turn into extra than simply your favourite singer’s favourite singer on his solution to music stardom.