Leveled - Durand Bernarr
Artwork - Durand Bernarr’s “Wanderlust”
Let’s see how I can start this off…
There is an ongoing debate about the state of R&B and where its fate lies. I admittedly have participated in some of the social media arguments in which some 90s R&B fanatics ask, “What happened to music like this?” or some other variation, to which I respond, “Nothing, you’re just not digging enough.” There was a moment in time when hip-hop and R&B collided into this brilliant symphony that let people know that R&B could be cool and tender at the same time. You know the songs: “Dilemma”, “Shawty”, “You”, and most recently, “Wait For U.” The art of the hip-hop/R&B collab that often gave us timeless classics has become very saturated as hip-hop has grown into what it is now. Eventually, hip-hop and R&B combined in such a way that rappers started singing, a group known as melodic rappers. Rod Wave. NBA Youngboy. Juice Wrld. Yung Bleu. While some of those rappers can in fact sing, there is something special about finding that perfect R&B song that feels like sitting in front of a blazing fireplace wrapped in a warm throw blanket as the rain pours down. One of those tunes that reminds you that love shouldn’t only be celebrated on Valentine’s Day but every single day of the year.
So, when one of those oldheads approaches me with a certain attitude about the quality of today’s artists, I pull out “Leveled” by Durand Bernarr. Bernarr dropped his album, “Wanderlust,” this past autumn which feels like a balm to a healing soul striving towards a better self. I discovered the album through several Instagram stories of people using his song “Mango Butter'' to accompany their style pictures. That prompted me to listen to the project to get a sense of who Bernarr was, and let me just say, I am so grateful for following my intuition. This has to be one of the best bodies of work from the last year and a demonstration of how R&B still retains that soul-rendering quality that the genre was built from.
I’m struggling to find the perfect words to describe “Leveled” because it’s the type of song that leaves you in awe. When I first heard it on my laptop as I sat in my college dorm room, I felt like I was floating into space, with not a care in the world. It’s less of a love letter and more of an ode to a partner where Bernarr seemingly says thank you for mellowing him out and revitalizing his spirit. Change is an aspect of love that this song explores, how meeting that special person can make you wonder what you’ve been missing out on and the ways in which they can nurture you.
In the R&B world, lyrics can only do about 30% to convey the emotion to the listener. The other 70% is left up to the singer’s ability to tap into something pure and sincere, and transform it into a wonderful sound. That is what Bernarr does with his vocals on “Leveled,” sliding from a mid baritone croon into an impressive falsetto, especially during the song’s post chorus which includes a simple yet telling refrain of “bring me in.” He turns that simple, three word line into a blissful serenade that has almost brought me to tears the more I listen to it. The production of the song has the rawness and intimacy of a Tiny Desk Concert, rich with quiet storm-like production.
As much as this song frequents my daily listening, I hope it never disappears from my playlist, but if it does, I hope that I rediscover and revisit the emotion that I felt when that drummer rumbled that cymbal into ecstasy. If there is anyone reading this who enjoys describing their affection through a dopey playlist, make sure this track makes it on there. To put it simply, after listening to this song, you’ll want to message Durand and ask who this special someone was that inspired its creation.
It’s just that good.
Stream “Leveled” by Durand Bernarr
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