Durand Bernarr Earns Grammy Nod for ‘En Route’

Viral performance vocalist, songwriter, producer and DJ, Durand Bernarr, is celebrating a career milestone as his EP, “En Route,” earns a nomination for the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in the category of Best Progressive R&B Album.

Released in May 2024, “En Route” is a genre-bending compilation of his musical influences and serves as a transitional bridge between Durand Bernarr’s sophomore album “Wanderlust” and his forthcoming solo and collaborative releases.

The EP highlights his unique ability to blend influences ranging from funk and jazz to modern R&B while connecting deeply with listeners through his personal narratives.

“En Route is the by-product of my experiences and evolution as both a person and an artist. It’s me expressing exactly how I feel, what I need and how I want to be treated” states Durand Bernarr. “While narrating these stories, I wanted to incorporate the eras, genres, cultures, instruments, and music legends that inspire me.”

The 67th Annual Grammy Awards will air live on February 2nd,2025 on CBS.

Durand Bernarr, often described as “Gangster Musical Theatre” by Qveen Herby, blends the influences of Little Richard and Rick James with his own distinctive flair, characterized by powerful vocals and clever storytelling. This unique combination has earned him the title of “your favorite singer’s favorite singer.”

Durand released his latest EP, Charlie Vettuno Presents…Where in the World is Carmen Randiego?!, a collaboration with the rising producer and songwriter duo Charlie Vettuno. Following the release of his high-energy anthem “READY!” and building on the momentum from his eight-track visual EP En Route, this new project marks the second creative pit stop between Durand’s sophomore album Wanderlust and his next album. The EP is now available on all major streaming platforms.

Earlier this year, Durand debuted his visual EP En Route, now available on all streaming platforms via Create Music Group. This genre-bending compilation bridges his sophomore album, Wanderlust, with his latest projects, including collaborations on Adi Oasis’ “Le Départ” (extended version) and “Weird” from Grammy Award-winning producer Kaytranada’s album Timeless. Notably, their track “Freefall” from Kaytranada’s Bubba precedes these releases. The EP, described as a road trip soundtrack, debuted exclusively to fans on EVEN before its public release, featuring the lead single “Unknown” and the second single “Fist Bump” featuring Free Nationals.

This year, Durand has performed at a series of prominent music festivals, including the Vermont Jazz Fest, MOBI Fest, Thesis Park, Bonnaroo, TivoliVredenburg, All Points East, We Out Here Festival, and AFROPUNK. He also introduced his sold-out Rollin’ With the Homies Skate Experience—a six-city skate tour beginning on July 6th in Dallas, TX, and ending on August 1st in Chicago, IL. The circuit featured music curated by Bernarr’s alternate moniker, DJ TBD aka Bra Coley. The second leg of the tour will be announced in the Fall.

During The Wanderlust Tour, Bernarr introduced his DJ alias, “DJ TBD aka Bra Coley – no relation to the late great Daryl Coley,” seamlessly integrating DJ sets into his live shows. As DJ TBD, Bernarr has captivated audiences at prominent events such as Everyday People in Los Angeles and London, Kiss & Grind in Los Angeles, Soho House in Nashville, and UK BLK Pride in London, further redefining live music and DJ culture.