Durand Bernarr facts for kids

Durand Bernarr is an American singer, songwriter, and music producer. He is known for his soulful voice and unique style. Durand often sings background vocals for the famous neo-soul artist Erykah Badu. He has also worked with other popular artists like Anderson .Paak, Kaytranada, and The Internet. In 2019, Durand was a top contestant on the BET music competition show The Next Big Thing. His album En Route was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Progressive R&B Album in 2025.

Early Life and Musical Roots

Durand Bernarr was born and grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. He was an only child, raised by parents who loved music. His mother was a professional music teacher and vocal coach. His father was an audio engineer who worked with many big names in music. These artists included Jay-Z, Beyonce, Rihanna, Jill Scott, and Whitney Houston.

Family Influence on Music

When Durand was 16, he joined his father on tour with the band Earth, Wind & Fire. He worked as a production assistant, learning about how concerts are put together. His mother was the music director at their church. This meant Durand grew up listening to and loving gospel music. He says that Erykah Badu, Rick James, and Little Richard are his biggest musical inspirations.

Durand Bernarr's Music Career

Durand Bernarr started building his fanbase online in 2008. He posted videos on YouTube where he sang, danced, and added funny comments. He also covered popular songs by artists like Kanye West, Amy Winehouse, and Gnarls Barkley.

Early Releases and Big Breaks

In 2009, Durand released his first mixtape, ...: The MixT@pe. It featured studio versions of his popular YouTube covers and some of his own original songs. He shared it on Bandcamp. In 2010, he released an EP called 8ight: The Stepson of Erykah Badu. This EP was a collection of songs and mixes inspired by Erykah Badu. Soon after, Badu herself contacted him on Twitter. She had heard 8ight and was impressed. In 2011, she hired him to be a background vocalist in her band, Nedda Stella.

Continued Music Projects

In November 2012, Durand released a holiday EP called "EXTRA Stankin' Christmas". He also released several other EPs and LPs independently between 2010 and 2014. These were available on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp. In September 2016, he released a 7-track EP titled "Sound Check". He also released a music video for its main song, "Around".

Collaborations with Other Artists

Durand Bernarr has worked with many well-known and independent artists. He has sung as a featured artist or provided background vocals. Some of his collaborations include Ari Lennox, Kaytranada, The Foreign Exchange, The Internet, Sam Sparro, Thundercat, Knxwledge, Qveen Herby, and Teedra Moses.

Reality TV and Album Success

In 2019, Durand competed on BET's reality music show The Next Big Thing. He showed off his skills in both rapping and singing. He finished as one of the top three performers on the show. In September 2020, he released his album DUR& (pronounced Durand). Critics praised the album for his amazing vocal range.

Durand's album En Route received a Grammy Award nomination in 2025. This was his first Grammy nomination. He released another album, Bloom, in 2025. This album is mainly about how much he values his close friendships. A reviewer from Rolling Stone magazine noted that Bloom shows Durand's wide musical knowledge. It also highlights his unique and true vocal style.

Discography

Durand Bernarr has released several albums and EPs throughout his career.

Studio Albums

• #Blameitonthemango (2014)
• DUR& (2020)
• Wanderlust (2022)
• BLOOM (2025)

EPs

• EXTRA Stankin' Christmas (2012)
• ANXIETY (2013)
• Sound Check (2016)
• En Route (2024)
• Charlie Vettuno Presents... Where in the World is Carmen Randiego?! (with Charlie Vettuno) (2024)

Mixtapes

• ...: The MixT@pe (2009)
• 8ight: The Stepson of Erykah Badu (2010)
• Some Time in December, 1987 (2011)
• 80's Baby (2012)