At the 2026 ASCAP Brunch, Durand Bernarr stood out effortlessly. The Grammy award-winning artist carried a confidence that spoke louder than any introduction as he approached the red carpet at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills. His presence reflected the rare balance between gratitude and self-assurance, the kind of energy that builds over decades of hard work rather than a season of good luck.

That lineage of intention defines Bernarr’s artistry. Raised in a deeply musical family, his creative roots were watered early and often. The result is a sound that merges soul, funk, and freedom in an unapologetic celebration of identity and craft. While mainstream recognition arrived in recent years, Bernarr’s story has long been written in the spaces where authenticity and experimentation meet.

When I spoke to Bernarr,  he reflected on his 21-year journey with honesty and humor. “Every overnight success takes ten years,” Bernarr said with a laugh. “This is the twenty-first year, and that’s not even counting the 16 years before that, when my parents were cultivating me. This is just a continuation of what they poured into me. I actually like what I do, and I’m good at it.”

Remaining independent in an industry built on conformity demands more than talent. It demands community. Bernarr is open about that truth. “It’s not easy at all,” he said. “There’s no way to do this by yourself. Leaning on community, on a village of people who have vision and require big dreams, is essential. It’s about reaching to the sides and seeing what brilliance is right next to you.”

That philosophy mirrors his journey, which has been collaborative, intentional, and rooted in connection. His independence is not isolation but a deliberate choice to preserve creative control and protect the integrity of his artistry. As Bernarr put it, “Not only am I still independent, but I’m Black, I’m not straight, I’m not unclockable—and I’m still singing the house down on my worst day.” Black, queer, and unapologetically authentic, Bernarr continues to redefine what R&B soul can sound, look, and feel like.