Durand Bernarr

In December 2007, he started posting a series of videos (many of which eventually went viral as thousands began admiring his voice, perspective & colorful personality) on YouTube. These clips, covers & interpolations saturated the Internet with his eclectic brand of FreeStyleSOUL leading up to the 2009 independent release of his first project "alcoholharmony: The MixT@pe". Read AfroPunk.com FreeStyle Soul on the Rise: Durand Bernarr on Touring with Erykah Badu, Being an Outsider & His Solo Projects [Article/Interview]

The debut gained prominent online features on SoulTracks.com & was touted as Highly Recommended by its critics. According to the leading resource dedicated to the classic and modern Soul genre, Durand's untrained, yet near flawless technique conjured references to Eric Benet, Rahsaan Patterson with the intelligence and fearlessness of B.Slade (formerly known as Tonex). Nearly 15k subscribers & over 2 million page views later, SoulTracks was among the first to introduce its readers to Durand as a member of the next generation of Soul music singers. Read SoulTracks.com Alcohol Harmony: The MixT@pe [Review]

By 2010, he was discovered by a variety of artists & a host of top entertainers such as the Soul chanteuse YahZarah, music collective The Foreign Exchange, radio host/actor/comedian Rickey Smiley and Grammy-winning singer/actress Erykah Badu. As the self-proclaimed stepson of Erykah Badu (Durand's own personal declaration), his growing notoriety in the realm of social media, his budding vocal prowess and self-fulfilling musical prophecy were all beginning to unfold culminating in the release of his second project "8ight: The Stepson of Erykah Badu". Read BamaLoveSoul.com - 8ight: The Stepson of Erykah Badu [Review]

In the months just before summer 2011, what could be deemed as nothing short of divine intervention occurred when the Queen of Neo-Soul herself Erykah Badu began conducting a focused worldwide search via the Internet to officially locate Durand. Of course, this was after she'd fallen in love with his gift and interpretations of her songs he covered including "Window Seat". Immediately upon meeting one of his many musical inspirations & influences face to face, Durand began traveling with Badu providing background vocals singing 2nd Soprano in her band Neda Stella.

The following year brought Bernarr's warmth & vigor to everyones favorite time of the year with 2012s digital release of "Durand Bernarr Presents... An Extra Stankin' Christmas". His first-ever holiday project offered energetic, original material plus a stunning vocal performance on one of his childhood favorites "Christmas Time is Here" that music reviewers & regional radio stations find themselves playing year-round. Read WZAKCleveland.com NEW MUSIC: Clevelands Own Durand Bernarr [Article]

Early in 2013, Australian-born soul, dance & synthpop singer Sam Sparro invited Durand to feature on the infectious, thumping dance tune Hang On 2 Your Love, the 1st single & accompanying music video to be lifted from Sparro's "Quantum Physical Vol. 1".  Read Hang On 2 Your Love Out Now [Official Press Announcement]

Fall of 2013, Durand embarking on a powerful media blitz with a string of live performances in multiple markets to support & promote his latest rendering of original songs on the highly anticipated "ANXIETY". Read HotHipHopDetroit.com -  Durand Bernarrs ANXIETY EP [Album Sampler/Review]

Durand is the pinnacle of a well-respected YouTube sensation now surpassing 7 million views with 70k+ subscribers as of 2014. As an artist, he is currently keeping himself busy appearing on world stages across the globe, in studios honing his craft and sharpening the skills for what he aches to do most - sharing his unique musical abilities and colorful personality with the world!

Durand writes & arranges all of his own music & to date has penned over 500 songs. With a genre-defying brand known as FreeStyleSOUL, theres much to behold, discover & appreciate about his evolving repertoire of music.