Durand Bernarr
{{Short description|American singer-songwriter, producer and DJ}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Durand Bernarr
| honorific_suffix =
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| alias = alcoholharmony
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| birth_place = Cleveland, Ohio
| genre = {{flat list |
| occupation = Singer-songwriter, producer
| instrument = Vocals, piano, keyboard
| years_active = 2005–present
| label = DSING Records (Independent)
| associated_acts = {{plainlist|
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| website = [https://www.durandbernarr.com/ durandbernarr.com]
}}
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.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2020|title=Durand Bernarr: 'I don't look at music like a competition, I'm doing me.'|url=https://www.loverboymagazine.com/durand-bernarr/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-10-14|website=Loverboy Magazine|language=en-GB}} Bernarr earned a nomination for 2025 Grammy Award for Best Progressive R&B Album for his album En Route.{{Cite web |last=Monroe |first=Jazz |date=2024-11-08 |title=Grammy Nominations 2025: See the Full List Here |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/grammy-nominations-2025-see-the-full-list-here/ |access-date=2024-12-14 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}
Early life
Bernarr was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio.{{Cite web|date=2019-08-12|title=Lena Waithe and AT&T Debut 4 Artists You Should Know|url=https://www.out.com/music/2019/8/12/lena-waithe-and-att-debut-4-artists-you-should-know|access-date=2020-10-14|website=www.out.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Rodriguez|first=Anthony|date=2016-10-12|title=Durand Bernarr Comes Back 'Around' {{!}} SoulBounce {{!}} SoulBounce|url=http://www.soulbounce.com/2016/10/durand-bernarr-comes-back-around/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-10-14|website=www.soulbounce.com|language=en-US}} 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 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. 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.{{cite web|last1=Street|first1=Mikelle|date=2019-10-30|title=This Viral Singer Turns Gospel Into Bops About Fuckboys and Weed|url=https://www.out.com/music/2019/10/30/viral-singer-turns-gospel-bops-about-fuckboys-and-weed|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=12 October 2020|website=Out}} He cites Erykah Badu, Rick James and Little Richard as his biggest influences.
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.{{Cite web|last=Aubry|first=Lucas|date=2020-09-25|title=Durand Bernarr, le phénomène repéré par Erykah Badu sur Twitter|url=https://www.numero.com/en/node/16884|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205165843/https://www.numero.com/en/node/16884|archive-date=2020-12-05|access-date=2020-11-27|website=Numero.com|language=en|url-status=dead}} 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.
In 2010, Bernarr released his second EP 8ight: The Stepson of Erykah Badu, a compilation of Badu covers and medleys.{{cite magazine |last1=Francis |first1=Glendon |title=9 LGBTQ Artists to Discover During Black History Month |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/8499302/lgbtq-singers-black-history-month |magazine=Billboard |access-date=12 October 2020}} 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.
in November 2012, he released his holiday EP titled "EXTRA Stankin' Christmas".
He's also independently released various EP's and LP's distributed between 2010 and 2014 on Spotify, apple music and Bandcamp. Some of which have been removed.
In September 2016, he released a 7 track EP, "Sound Check" and released a video for the lead single "Around".
Bernarr collaborates with various known name as well as indie artists as a feature or providing backgrounds. He has collaborated and performed with Ari Lennox, Kaytranada, The Foreign Exchange, The Internet, Sam Sparro, Thundercat, Knxwledge, Qveen Herby, and Teedra Moses.{{Cite web|title=Durand Bernarr Is Soul Music's Best Kept Secret|url=https://www.soundoflife.com/blogs/people/durand-bernarr-is-soul-music-s-best-kept-secret|access-date=2020-10-14|website=Sound of Life}}
Bernarr competed on BET's 2019 reality music competition series The Next Big Thing.{{cite magazine |last1=Lynch |first1=Joe |title=4 Rising Artists You Should Know in 2019 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/partner/8526749/4-rising-artists-you-should-know-in-2019 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=12 October 2020}} He both rapped and sang, and eventually finished as one of the top three performers.
He released the album DUR& (pronounced Durand) in September 2020.{{cite web|last1=Clark|first1=Kevin L.|title=Kaash Paige Introduces Essence's Official Cuffing SZN Opener Playlist|url=https://www.essence.com/entertainment/kaash-paige-official-cuffing-season-playlist/|access-date=12 October 2020|website=Essence}} 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."
Bernarr's album En Route earned a 2025 Grammy Award for Best Progressive R&B Album nomination, his first nomination. He released the album Bloom in 2025, which is primarily about his appreciation for his "platonic friendships."{{Cite web |last=Jordan |first=Meagan |date=2025-02-19 |title=Durand Bernarr's New Music Is Rooted in Friendship and Collaboration |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/durand-bernarr-bloom-new-music-interview-1235264512/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} Meagan Jordan of Rolling Stone stated: "Bloom pulls on Bernarr’s musical knowledge and appreciation of many genres, while still remaining unique and authentic to his own vocal style."
Personal life
Bernarr resides in Los Angeles. He identifies as queer.
Discography
= 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 =
- alcoholharmony: The MixT@pe (2009)
- 8ight: The Stepson of Erykah Badu (2010)
- Some Time in December, 1987 (2011)
- 80's Baby (2012)
= as featured artist =
| class="wikitable"
!Title !Year !Album !Ref |
| "Hang on 2 Your Love"
{{small|(Sam Sparro featuring Durand Bernarr)}} |2013 |Quantum Physical, Vol. 1 EP |
| "Freefall"
{{small|(Kaytranada featuring Durand Bernarr)}} |2019 |
| "Self Aware"
(Qveen Herby featuring Durand Bernarr) |2020 |EP 8 |
| "Facetime (Remix)"
(Ari Lennox featuring Durand Bernarr) |2020 |
| "Red Aura"
(Tech N9ne featuring Qveen Herby & Durand Bernarr) |2023 |Bliss |
| "Weird"
{{small|(Kaytranada featuring Durand Bernarr)}} |2024 | |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://www.durandbernarr.com/}}
{{GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Music Artist}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bernarr, Durand}}
Category:African-American male singer-songwriters
Category:American male singer-songwriters
Category:21st-century American pianists
Category:Singer-songwriters from Ohio
Category:African-American LGBTQ people
Category:African-American pianists
Category:Queer singer-songwriters
Category:American LGBTQ songwriters
Category:21st-century African-American male singers