Be it his out of this world vocal control or his uplifting music, Durand Bernarr oozes all things iconic. This is true even down to the way he ran up to the 68th Annual Grammy Awards stage last night to accept his well-deserved award for Best Progressive R&B Album. “Happy Black History Month for the rest of my life!,” the Cleveland-born artist told the crowd as he excitedly spoke into the mic. “We are all we got…please give yourself some grace and extend your kindness to your neighbor who needs it,” he added. And went on, “Be yourself! And speaking of yourself, I want to thank myself because this was some hard work y’all. Twenty plus years!” I mean, chills.
The winning project, BLOOM—which includes incredible songs like “Overqualified” and “Impact”—is all about, “the love that we have within our friends, within our community, within our tribe. And this was my love letter to my friends who have become my family,” as he tells ESSENCE the day before the Grammys. “To have that love letter to the people that matter to me be acknowledged in this manner is a reminder of what happens when you are able to pour your heart out—it is well received.”
Gearing up for the major evening came naturally to him, thanks to grounding practices like therapy, regular naps, eating healthily, and replacing scrolling on social media with reading bell hooks. “Rest will be your best friend,” he says. Additionally, “I’ve been starting with hot water in the morning, getting something soft on the digestive system. Not necessarily eating to stuff myself, but just to nourish myself,” he says. “I’m all about the little things that will help in my body and mind.”
Additionally, staying present is important to him. “I’m all about being where my feet are, and being inside of myself,” he says. But, of course, he’s been actively processing the weight and reality of the moment, too—win aside. “I’m a four-time Grammy nominee. That in itself is a big deal,” he says. “As an independent artist, that is not something that we should just skip past.”
As for the incredible look? Styled by his trusted stylist and friend Vincent Smith—who shares that working with him feels like working with family—Bernarr rocked two custom LUAR ensembles topped off with jewelry by Lagos and Rockford Collection. The first look, which was an ultraviolet suit, was for the pre ceremony. “We chose this look because the color purple represents the number four,” in honor of the number of Grammy nominations Bernarr has received, Smith says.
“We were trying to tell the story of his journey through his music and where he is with being recognized by the recording academy,” the Birmingham-born, LA-based stylist explains. Making the look all the more intentional, the suit came all the way up to his chin. “This represents a flower budding,” a nod to BLOOM. The second look, which was for the red carpet, was also a purple suit—this time with a silk floral bouquet fabric underneath. “It almost reminds you of ostrich feathers peeking out from the suit with the laser cut. It reminded me of a flower that has completely bloomed,” Smith says.
Completing the looks was the grooming—letting his natural beauty shine, of course. “My makeup is always light. I like it to look like I have nothing on at all,” he says. “I try to take care of my skin so that the makeup artists can do their job easily,” he adds. For hair, “my girl Parris makes sure that she cuts it in a way where it could be five days later and it still looks like my hair was cut that day.”
But all of this aside, for Bernarr, it’s all about confidence. “It doesn’t matter what I’m wearing, who I’m wearing, as long as I feel good in myself,” Bernarr, who has an incredible year ahead—think: a Netflix Is A Joke appearance and Blue Note shows—says. “It’s in my walk. I don’t walk looking down at my feet trying to figure out what my next step is. I have a stroll and a stride about myself. And that is where the confidence comes from.”
Below, in inside look at how Bernarr’s iconic GRAMMYs win look came together.
