From viral harmonies to bandleader status
Warm funk, sharp wit, and crowd play
[Durand Bernarr] came up posting inventive harmonies and covers, then stepped into the spotlight with a sleek mix of funk, soul, and playful talk-singing. His time working with
Erykah Badu sharpened his ear for space, offbeat humor, and deep pocket. A likely set leans on agile mid-tempo grooves, with songs like
Leveled,
Mango Butter,
Boundaries, and
Company framed by long, teasing intros. The crowd tends to be a mix of R&B heads, choir-trained vocal fans, and queer community members who come ready to sing harmony parts, not just hooks. Expect quick banter, call-and-response runs, and a band that can pivot when he stretches a vamp or flips a melody on a whim. A fun note: he often music-directs his own shows on the mic, and he first drew industry eyes with homemade videos stacking 5-6 vocal parts. Note: any setlist and staging details mentioned here are educated guesses and could differ on the night.
The Scene, The Shine, The Inside Jokes of Durand Bernarr
Dress for groove, not for fuss
Shared language in the room
Fans often show out in silk shirts, wide-leg pants, stacked rings, and vintage shades, with a few hand fans flicking in time. You will hear layered sing-backs on ad-libs, and the room knows when to echo a whistle note or a clipped 'uh' for effect. Between songs, [Durand Bernarr] trades quick one-liners with the front row, then cues a communal hum to reset the mood. People tend to film the big run once and put phones down when the groove locks, because the pocket is the point. Merch leans witty and simple, like a phrase tee and a bold color cap, plus a poster that looks good on a studio wall. Old-school concert etiquette pops up too, with gentle shouts of 'take your time' when a ballad starts slow. After the show, fans swap run breakdowns and favorite ad-libs like recipes, comparing who caught which harmony tag.
Groove Mechanics, Velvet Results with Durand Bernarr
Pocket first, then the fireworks
Small shifts that change the feel
[Durand Bernarr] sings with a nimble tenor that flips to a tight falsetto without losing power. He favors clear phrasing and glide notes, then punctuates lines with quick runs that land right on the beat. Arrangements ride a steady pocket from drums and bass, with Rhodes or synth adding soft edges while guitar colors the corners. He often stretches the bridge, dropping the band to near silence before a stacked-harmony return that feels like a release. One subtle habit: he sometimes lowers a song a half-step live to sit in a warmer range, which lets the chorus ring without strain. Rhythms can flip to half-time in a breakdown, turning a strut into a slow burn before snapping back for the final hook. Lighting tends to mirror the music, staying warm during grooves and going sharp and cool for those voice-only moments.
Kindred Spirits for Durand Bernarr
Soul cousins with groove to spare
Different routes to the same vibe
Fans of
Erykah Badu will vibe with the woozy grooves and sly stage humor.
Masego draws a similar crowd that likes jazzy chords, sax flourishes, and a playful, flirty tone.
Lucky Daye shares crisp modern R&B writing and a focus on falsetto hooks that bloom live. If you enjoy church-schooled chops arranged for a tight band,
PJ Morton hits the same lane even when the tempos differ. All four acts reward close listening, but they still keep a danceable bottom end that makes a room move.
