En Route with Durand Bernarr

Summary

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Keep it Positive, Sweetie

Episode: En Route with Durand Bernarr

Host: Crystal Renee Hayslett
Guest: Durand Bernarr
Date: July 23, 2024

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Episode Overview

This episode of Keep It Positive, Sweetie shines a spotlight on the vibrant, multi-talented vocalist, songwriter, and performer Durand Bernarr. Host Crystal Renee Hayslett curates an open and insightful conversation about Durand's unconventional journey in music, authenticity, mental health, and the power of community and self-love. Together, they touch on the struggles, victories, and wisdom gleaned along Durand's career—creating an uplifting space for both candid truth-telling and actionable inspiration.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Durand’s Musical Journey and Inspirations

• Origin Story: Durand began posting covers on YouTube in 2008, seeking honest feedback beyond family and friends.

  “I just wanted an objective opinion on what it is that I do... I just wanted to make sure that what I was doing, like, this is, this is the calling.” — Durand (01:43)

• Childhood Influences: Raised on gospel and jazz, his parents were selective about music at home—his mother favoring gospel, his father leaning toward jazz, with occasional icons like Marvin Gaye, Sade, Whitney, Mariah, and Michael Jackson. Secretly, Durand absorbed influences like Janet Jackson’s Velvet Rope as “contraband.”

  “She got rid of that. She was just like, nah, not in this house.” — Durand (03:16)

2. Authenticity & Artistic Freedom

• Durand’s Energy and Identity: Always high-energy and true to himself, Durand credits his upbringing and being an only child for a strong sense of self.

  “I've always been myself... always wanting to entertain people, always want to laugh, always up to mischief, you know? But... it's just been more refined over the years.” — Durand (04:03)

• Balancing Background & Solo Careers: After 13 years singing background for Erykah Badu, Durand managed to grow his solo venture alongside with Badu’s open support.

  “She told me early on... ‘I don't feel my stage is big enough for you.’ And that was me at, like, 22, 23.” — Durand (06:02)

3. Lessons from Erykah Badu & Industry Longevity

• Creative & Business Wisdom: Durand gleaned the importance of knowing his craft, trusting collaborators, and not taking himself too seriously.

  “Not to take myself so serious, especially on stage... have fun.” — Durand (07:29)

• Family and Management: Durand’s father is his manager, providing strong business guidance and family support.

  “However, Bernard Sr. just takes the cake when it comes to someone really going to bat and making sure that I'm taken care of...” — Durand (08:59)

4. Community, Recognition & Navigating “No’s”

• Acknowledgment: Moments like the Juneteenth Hollywood Bowl show, with figures like T-Pain and Lloyd cheering him on, signified the respect of peers and fulfillment for Durand and his parents.

  “To have people that I’m inspired by... are now paying attention...” — Durand (10:45)

• Facing Rejection: Durand shared candidly about periods of self-doubt (notably 2015), feeling unseen and being advised to “tone it down.” Instead, he learned to “simplify” rather than overhaul his artistry.

  “All we need to do is just simplify this. You can still be yourself, but present it in a way where you love it, but also it makes sense to everyone else.” — Durand (12:12)

5. Artistic Milestones and Creative Play

• Tiny Desk, Tour, & DJing:
  • Tiny Desk: Performing at NPR’s Tiny Desk was a long-term independent milestone, celebrating his creative village.

    “Walking into the space, knowing that I've been doing this independently...” — Durand (13:30)

  • Touring & Costumes: Durand integrated playful elements like costumes from his own childhood, reclaiming joy lost due to “Hallelujah Nights” instead of Halloween.
  • Skate/DJ Tour: Launching a six-city skate and DJ tour, Durand aims to infuse personal taste into music curation for skating culture.

    “There’s an art to curating music specifically for skating and specifically adult night.” — Durand (18:43)

6. Musical Roots and Influence

• Church & Theater: Durand credits church, choral music, and ensemble work for his performance development and understanding of musical blending.

  “Being in church. And not just in church, in theater as well... When it's time for you to shine, you step out and work the stage.” — Durand (15:30)

• Indirect Inspiration: Picking up musical nuances from artists influenced by legends, rather than the legends themselves.

7. Mental Health, Self-Love, and Support Systems

• Imposter Syndrome & Depression: Durand openly discussed wrestling with imposter syndrome and the importance of his support network, including therapy and friends.

  “Outside of, you know, really just trying to find my sound... the biggest one would be just me coming into myself... finding, you know, to be able to hang on to my humanity and not denigrate myself...” — Durand (21:20)

• Family vs. Relatives:

  “We have to take the emphasis off of that and learn to separate our relatives from our family, because they're not the same.” — Durand (22:15)

• Friendship and Community: Durand values friends who’ve been reliable during the grind, even through spells of instability and “in-between” living situations.

8. Hustle, Grind, & Self-Care

• Working Multiple Jobs: Durand took gigs like Uber and Lyft (2016–2020) during hard times in LA and shared the hustler’s reality, even recounting moments of being recognized by riders.

  “Yes, I was getting recognized... Getting asked to sing. And I'm like, babe, I'm just supposed to get you from point A to point B. That's gonna cost you X.” — Durand (25:09)

• On Exhaustion & Prioritizing Rest:

  “I'm just now reaching for moments of not having to do anything so that I can really rest.” — Durand (27:02)

• Daily Self-Care Rituals: Scheduling naps, massages, and recovery time.

  “Naps are just... something that is absolutely necessary. I actually now have that blacked out in my schedule...” — Durand (28:27)

9. Navigating Success and Fame

• Safe Spaces: As fame grows, Durand prioritizes having trusted people and a good therapist; he values honesty and constructive support over flattery.
• Balancing Public & Private: Shows the value of “different dimensions” of self—being energetic and vibrant on stage, but calm and present in other settings.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On being true to himself:

  “I've always been myself. As my mother said, you always let us know who you were.” — Durand (04:03)

• On endorsement from an idol:

  “She [Erykah Badu] told me early on... ‘I don't feel my stage is big enough for you.’” — Durand (06:02)

• On imposter syndrome and resilience:

  “All we need to do is just simplify this. You can still be yourself, but present it in a way where you love it, but also it makes sense to everyone else.” — Durand (12:12)

• On support networks:

  “We have to take the emphasis off of that and learn to separate our relatives from our family, because they're not the same.” — Durand (22:15)

• On the importance of rest:

  “There is rest in the work. There's work in the rest.” — Durand (31:58)

• On advice to artists:

  “Keep it audacious... You have the audacity to be yourself.” — Durand (39:21)

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Listener Letter: Positive Outcome

[35:00 – 38:00]

• Mariah’s Letter: Mariah, a 26-year-old aspiring screenwriter with schizophrenia and recent grief, seeks advice on maintaining confidence and faith.
• Crystal’s advice: Seek professional help for schizophrenia, embrace the reality of loss, focus on positive memories, strengthen faith, and surround herself with uplifting people.
• Durand’s perspective: Importance of company and community in healing:

  “When we're dealing with loss or change in that way, it's important for us to be around people that are going to uplift us... even if the waves do come, we can't revel in it too long.” — Durand (36:35)

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Final Reflections & Takeaways

Durand on the Present:

• Growing through new career stages, staying present, cultivating supportive relationships, and seeking new healthy outlets.

  “I think the main thing is just to be as present as possible.” — Durand (39:00)

Signature Close:

• Crystal: “Keep it creative, sweetie.”
• Durand: “Keep it audacious, sweetie. My therapist let me know you have the audacity to be yourself.” (39:21)

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Additional Details & Timestamps

• [00:00–02:19] — Setting, Introductions, Childhood Music
• [04:42–07:00] — Singing for Erykah Badu, Maintaining Dual Careers
• [09:38–11:04] — Juneteenth Show, Peer Recognition
• [11:04–12:52] — Overcoming doubt, Finding Artistic Identity
• [13:30–15:12] — Tiny Desk, Tour Stories, Reclaiming Joy
• [18:15–20:29] — DJ/Skate Tour, Curating Black Culture
• [21:20–23:02] — Mental Health, Confidence, Family
• [25:01–26:58] — Grind Stories: Uber, Perseverance
• [28:27–29:37] — Self-Care: Naps, Massages, Recovery
• [36:35–38:00] — Listener Letter on Grief and Mental Health
• [39:11–39:26] — “Keep it Audacious, Sweetie.”

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This episode delivers an authentic glimpse into the resilience, creativity, and steadfast faith that define Durand Bernarr’s ascent, offering listeners both moving stories and actionable encouragement for following their passions—unapologetically and audaciously.

Transcript

[A]

Foreign hello and welcome to this episode of Keep it positive, sweetie. Guys, Kips is taking over la. I'm here catching up with some of my favorite favorite people and we are filming inside this beautiful black owned store owned by Nikao Graco where 90% of the products sold here are bipoc founded. Thank you so much. 13 loon today I have with me none other than Duran Bernard. Guys. He is described as gangster musical theater by Queen Herbie Duran. Bernard combines elements of Little Richard and Rick James with his own unique flair, characterized by his powerful vocals and clever storytelling. The result is unmistakably Durand, earning him the title of your favorite singers. Female favorite singer. The Cleveland native performing artist, vocalist, producer and songwriter recently debuted his latest visual ep En Route, a genre bending compilation of Duran's musical influences, and serves as a transitional bridge between his sophomore album, Wanderlust, and his forthcoming solo and collaborative releases. Ladies and gentlemen, Durand Bernard. You guys have probably seen him sing background for some of your favorite favorite artists, but you've also known him as a solo artist, so you have really built your own lane outside of singing.

[B]

Bg I started just posting content on the Internet.

[A]

I saw the YouTube, right.

[B]

And that's how kind of things picked up with just getting notoriety.

[A]

What was your goal when you like, I'm gonna start doing covers on YouTube. That was like 2008.

[B]

Yeah. So wasn't really a goal. I just wanted a objective opinion on what it is that I do. Because, you know, when folks are in the family and your friends, you know, they'll gas you up. So I just wanted to make sure that what I was doing, like, this is, this is the calling.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Awesome. So tell me your childhood because the way you sing, I want to know what the inspirations were. Like, what were your parents playing when you were at home cleaning up on Saturdays because you have so much soul in your voice and there's so many different textures. What was that like growing up and what did you guys listen to?

[B]

So my mother was very strict on what was being filtered in the house, so it was really just gospel and jazz. My dad was on the, doing the jazz stuff. But then also they would, you know, listen to, you know, Marvin Gaye and the Commodores and stuff like that. Sade.

[A]

Yes. Oh, love.

[B]

Whitney and Mariah would be played on the jazz stations, you know, and Michael Jackson actually was cool, you know, because we grew up with him. But it wasn't until later on I was able to, what I call it contraband, you know, listening to the Wait and Exhale soundtrack. And I don't know how I got ahold of the velvet rope. I just remember that she got a hold of them lyrics back then, you know, used to put lyrics. They sure did in the booklet. Child and Child. She got the rope burned. And I ain't seen that album since.

[A]

Your mama burned it.

[B]

Listen, she got rid of that. She was just like, nah, not in this house.

[A]

Listen. I remember I bought my first, like, explicit. I think it was like Mace. Like an album from Mace. And it had the E on it for explicit. And my mom found that, and she was like, mm, mm, not. I couldn't even. I'm on two BET shows, and I couldn't watch BET growing up.

[B]

I mean, I knew. Listen, I knew friends who couldn't watch the Rugrats.

[A]

What.

[B]

You know, because they felt that that behavior was not, you know, becoming for children. So it just really depends on what everybody's capacities were. But, you know, we kind of loosened it up as we went along.

[A]

So you are known for your energy on the stage. Were you always full of energy as a child, or did this come. Did you find yourself later on in life?

[B]

I have always been myself.

[A]

Really.

[B]

I've always been myself. As my mother said, you always let us know who you were. There was no, like, us controlling or molding you into, you know, Even though I'm a very great hybrid of my mom and my dad being the only child. But, yeah, it's. I've just always been me. I've always just been this ball of energy, always wanting to entertain people, always want to laugh, always up to mischief, you know? But, yeah, this is. It's. And it's just been more refined over the years.

[A]

Yeah. Okay. Throughout your journey, like, because you sang background for Erykah Badu for how long now?

[B]

I still do.

[A]

I saw a video of you recently. Crazy.

[B]

It's been voice crazy, the intrusive thoughts. 13 years. Wow. So she. We got together. I know, I know.

[A]

Oh, my goodness. So 13 years singing background. A lot of vocalists get pigeonholed singing BG for artists. How did you say, I'm gonna do this for 13 years and still doing it, but I'm gonna also do my own thing. And how did you find the time to do that?

[B]

So she was never. At least when I came along, she wasn't gigging to the point where it was taking me away from the things that I needed to do. So I was able to balance both. And I told her, I will juggle both as long as I possibly can. Until I. I just can't. But it helps when you have a great relationship with not only the artist, but the crew, the band. This has been a family affair for me for a while now. So I'm just now getting to a position where I'm like, oh, I can't do this gig because I'm gonna be at Afropunk or I'm gonna be over in Europe. But that's something that she's always proud of.

[A]

I love that. It's always good when the person that you've worked for for so long is supportive of your dreams as well.

[B]

Oh, yeah. She told me early on when I first joined, she said, I don't feel my stage is big enough for you. And that was me at, like, 22, 23. Yeah. I was really trying to just digest that, you know?

[A]

Yeah. How do you process Erykah Badu telling.

[B]

You that when you are in a position where you can inspire your inspiration, it is unlike any feeling that we. And it's not that it's not common in certain spaces, but to just be aware of it, to really take it in. Like, this is. This is a moment.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You know, or you. You value my thoughts or my feelings, you know, that type of thing. Yeah. And I know everyone doesn't. Doesn't have that when they say, don't, you know, don't meet your heroes or don't meet your favorites, you know, But I think my expectation for our relationship was so, like, I thought it was just. I was gonna be able to shake her hand and, you know, just thank her for, you know, inspiring me, and it was just. No. She reached out to me.

[A]

Wow. So how did that even come about the Internet? Oh, she saw you online and was like, I want you. Come. Come with me. Let's run this world together.

[B]

Yes, indeed.

[A]

That is amazing. So being that close to Erica, it reminds me of my relationship with Tyler Perry. I styled him for five years, and I was with him all the time. What things. What things have you taken from Erica that have helped you in your own personal journey as an artist?

[B]

No, my shit. But then also, have fun.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Have fun trusting your band and then trusting you, building that rapport. Not to take myself so serious, especially on stage. It's like, yeah, okay, I didn't hit the right note. That's fine. Like, this is live.

[A]

When did you not hit the right note?

[B]

Well, as she said, first of all, how y' all gonna tell me I hit the wrong note? How you know which note I was gonna hit?

[A]

Right. Exactly.

[B]

So no, all of those things and just other mental notes that I've taken over the course of this time, especially as I've seen the production grow.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

You know, last year she did her first arena tour and that was something that was, you know, just to go from the theaters that we did.

[A]

Right.

[B]

She hadn't put out new music in almost 10 years, and yet you're able to sell out 18 to 22,000 seat.

[A]

Crazy. Yeah. That's amazing. Yeah. Business wise, has there been anything that you've taken from her that helped you, like, develop your business? Because as an artist, it just not about being creative. It's also about being businessman. Now, what have you taken from her to say, okay, this is how I need to handle my business as well?

[B]

So my business aspect of it really honestly came from my dad because he's been, you know, managing me.

[A]

Oh, really?

[B]

Yeah. Since I decided that this is what I wanted to do. So. Yeah. So having. Having someone to have your back in. In that kind of way. And I have an amazing team that believes in me that, you know, enhances what is. What is going on. However, Bernard sr. Just takes the cake when it comes to someone really going to bat and making sure that I'm taken care of in the best way.

[A]

I love that. And a lot of. Not a lot of artists can say that their father, their mother back, everything they're doing. But to have that family support, I'm sure means the most because you can really trust your family.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

Especially navigating this industry is a little tough.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. That's incredible. Now, most recently, you just did the Juneteenth celebration at the Hollywood. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Let's talk about it. Cause, honey, I saw the video with T Pain standing on the side of the stage losing his absolute mind.

[B]

Don't you just love it? Love it? Like, I just love it. I was so first and foremost, I want to go on the record and just say, lloyd, who was there.

[A]

I love Lloyd. Yeah.

[B]

Is one of the most sweetest and warm, delightful human beings that I've just immediately come in contact with. And he just poured so much positivity and encouragement into me before I went on stage. And I was telling him, I feel full, I feel supported, and I feel loved, and I also feel acknowledged. All of those things happening simultaneously to. To have people that I again, am inspired by that. I'm motivated by that I have grown up with, are now paying attention.

[A]

Because you've been doing this for a long time.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah. So that is something that I'M and then the fact that my parents are able to witness all of this, to witness the seeds that they planted and to see all this flourish is just everything else is a perk. That is the main thing that has been the most gratifying.

[A]

I want to ask you something because just thinking about your journey and you saying, finally being acknowledged and seen and loved, were there any moments in your journey where you felt like, they don't see me, the world doesn't see me. I know who I am, you know? And you're still getting no's and trying to build. How did you navigate through those seasons of your life?

[B]

I did have a. A real moment, I think, maybe in 2015, where I felt maybe I need to just completely shift who I am and how I'm presenting myself, because this isn't getting me the new pair of shoes, that I really need to be able to stride properly. And it's all about timing and it's all about what is being said and who is saying it and how they are saying it. And I think for a long time, people were trying to tell me to tone it down or to dumb it down. That was another one that I just. I didn't understand. What do you mean?

[A]

Right. Dumb what down? Yeah.

[B]

And it wasn't until someone actually had the language for me to be like, well, actually, all we need to do is just simplify this. You can still be yourself, but present it in a way where you love it, but also it makes sense to everyone else. And so that's where my song Melody came from. And I was just talking about that journey of finally finding my sound and my approach to music, which is implementing my personality in there and leaving room for where everyone can sing along. And then those little pockets of me doing my stuff, you know, we tuck her over here in the cut. You got to really, you know, pay attention. And then. Yeah, so that's been. And that's been like my formula.

[A]

I love that. I love that. I know a lot of times we deal with imposter syndrome or feel like we don't belong, knowing we do, but we get to that space, we're like, wait, is this what I'm supposed to do? So I know all too well myself, like, how they can feel when you know what you're capable of, but the world doesn't see it yet. That part, you know? Yeah, I love that. So you also did the tiny desk. That's like a big platform. Listen. That is like a huge, huge, huge, huge platform. And everybody wants to make that but not a lot of people do. How did you feel when you got that call? And then how did you come up with your set list and everything you were gonna do for that?

[B]

So, first and foremost, just walking into the space, knowing that I've been doing this independently.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I also had, you know, my village there, you know, where it's people that I've been reaching to the side of, that I've known since I was 12 and 18 and, you know, the past 10 years, just building this, helping add on to this machine. It was, again, just the acknowledgement, the. Not actually, no, we don't want you to do tiny desk at home. We need to get you actually behind the desk.

[A]

Desk. Yeah. Yeah.

[B]

And then just the introduction that Bobby Carter did where it was just. He's like, I've been around for every tiny desk, you know, and I've seen amazing acts. Bless this space. He said, however, this is special.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And it's just like, oh, gosh. And so I've been dressing up on my tour that I was on, and so we kind of slapped that right in the middle of five shows, and it ended up being number six.

[A]

Oh, wow.

[B]

We had been on the road for three weeks by that time, so we were very locked in. It was just a condensed version of my set.

[A]

Okay. Dope.

[B]

And I was dressing up. I was the mask one night. I was Beetlejuice. I was Popeye, Carmen, San Diego. All those things. Because I didn't get a chance to trick or treat when I was growing up. Again, Hallelujah harvest. Okay. Hallelujah night.

[A]

Hallelujah night.

[B]

So, yeah, so I was just allowing my inner child to just kind of have a moment to just have fun, you know?

[A]

Yeah. I love that we. Hallelujah night. I remember those days. We are not going trick or treat. We going to the church.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

We got some candy for you there.

[B]

Okay. Okay.

[A]

Yes. Speaking of going, growing up in the church, do you feel like that has been your foundation? What has carried you throughout the years?

[B]

So my. The development, the artist development, Being in church. And not just in church, in theater as well. Singing choral music and being a part of an ensemble where you are learning how to blend into the bigger piece of the puzzle. And then when it's time for you to shine, you step out and work the stage. And so. And I also got a lot of inspiration indirectly. Like, I didn't grow up listening to the Clark sisters, but I listened to people who listened to the Clark sisters. And so certain things that were done, I picked up from Other artists, which I think is really dope about just music in general. How we can be indirectly inspired just from someone's take of how they interpret what they've learned. And I'm a sponge, so it's all different type of things.

[A]

I love that. I grew up in the church and I sing as well. Not like you.

[B]

Uh, uh, you ain't gotta do that. You sing, you sing, but you sing.

[A]

You sing, you sing. Listen, I listen. I was like, oh my goodness. Like you definitely have an anointed voice. Because the thing the acrobats you can do with your voice. I'm just like, whoa.

[B]

The human voice just interests me so much. Just the things that we can do. Specifically like Phyllis Hyman.

[A]

Yes. Oh my gosh.

[B]

Like when she did Broadway. It's just the things that can be done. How you can emulate Jamie Foxx is another one where his impressions.

[A]

Oh my goodness. So good.

[B]

Like, yeah.

[A]

So good. Yeah, I love that. A few other things. Tell me what else you got coming up. I know you have a six city tour skate where you're gonna dj.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

That's incredible. Okay, let me tell you the story. I was, I had a skate party in the third grade, fell and busted my lip and I haven't skated since. Yeah. So I, I.

[B]

Not the trauma.

[A]

The trauma, honey, you can't. And then I tried again when I got old and I fell. And just the vibration from your butt to your mouth when you fall like that, it's like, this is why I didn't do this. So I love, I think it's so cool when I see people out there skating backwards and doing the dances. Do you do all that?

[B]

So I see. I need everybody to calm down because they be sending me videos of folks doing backflips and you like not doing that front flips into splits on the edge of the curb. No, I have not done any such thing. Okay. What I'm doing is I'm line dancing on my skates.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And line dancing is a, is a Northwest, I'm sorry, Midwest, south thing. And so it makes it look like I'm doing something, but I'm just, I'm stepping, you know, it's just a little jig, you know?

[A]

A little jig. And you're DJing on this tour as well. So when did you get into DJing?

[B]

Last year.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

Yes. I mean, technically I've been DJing, you know, because, you know, my taste in music is impeccable. But it's just now I have a controller to kind of Blend and remix and whatnot. So, yeah, I want to give that a shot just to see what other avenues I can have to be myself and that make a way for me.

[A]

I love that. I love that. So what made you say, I want to do a tour, A skate tour. This is very, like, I don't think anybody's really done anything like this.

[B]

Yeah, this is very specific because I'm a skater and I grew up, you know, skating every Friday, Saturday night. And also, too, I feel like there's an art to curating music specifically for skating and specifically adult night.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Like, I just as much as act up by the City girls gets me going. That is not a proper skate song.

[A]

Right.

[B]

Like, we need, you know, pistol grip, pump. Okay. Like, you know, those type of things. We need some Patrice Rushing. Okay. We need some, you know, Mary Jane girls. You know, that's the thing to get that going. So, yeah, I want to just showcase how I, first of all, how I interpret the music, but then how I blend it and then, you know, just giving the folks things that they didn't know that they needed.

[A]

That's so true. I love that. And I feel like skating is a part of our culture, such a big part of our culture.

[B]

Oh, absolutely, absolutely.

[A]

Because in Atlanta, I live in Atlanta now. I'm from Tennessee. But in Atlanta, like, Sunday nights is the skate night, and everybody makes their way to Cascade or Sprinkles. It's another little or Sparkles. There's another skating rink in Smyrna. Everybody goes there on Sundays. It's a thing. And sometimes I've been there with friends and I'm like, I cannot do that. That is crazy.

[B]

I mean, luckily, you know, you don't have to necessarily know how to skate to pull up. I would beseech you, beseech you to, you know, get your own skate so that you can at least learn. You got to start somewhere.

[A]

Yeah, absolutely.

[B]

But then just, you know, just to be in the space, you know, the music is going to be dope, you know, regardless if you're on your wheels or not. You're going to be dazed.

[A]

Yeah. No, that's fun. Yeah, I love that. Anything else you have coming up that you're going to be doing any music that you're working or that you can tell us about.

[B]

I mean. Well, so I'm doing a couple joint projects.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I wanted to do some cross promotion and I haven't revealed who it is yet. Knowing that I like, that is known. Known. Just want to say that. But this is some. A Group that I think is really dope, and they have curated a sound for me that is very cohesive. It's something I've been wanting to do. So, yeah, that'll be out this year.

[A]

That's dope. I love it. I love it. As artists, I know sometimes I talked about. We deal with imposter syndrome. We deal with depression, with different types of mental challenges. Throughout your journey, has there been any moments or scenarios that you can share with us that were difficult for you, and how did you see them through? Hmm.

[B]

I mean, outside of, you know, really just trying to find my sound, I think the biggest. The other hurdle that would probably be the biggest one would be just me coming into myself and finding, you know, to be able to hang on to my humanity and not denigrate myself or repress myself out of, you know, just trying to be obedient, you know, in a certain space, but then also coming to a space where at least my mother was able to affirm me in a way that let me know that there was nothing to fix because I wasn't broken. And so now I'm able to, you know, have this. This new life being breathed into me, which is like. And love for myself.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And that is the confidence that I have. Because it's all about the company that you keep as well.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And a lot of us have let our relatives get away with things that we wouldn't let strangers come on now get away with. So we have to take the emphasis off of that and learn to separate our relatives from our family, because they're not the same.

[A]

They're not. Ooh, that's strong. That is so real. Because a lot of times we do put our family members in a different box than we do other people. We let them get away with more than we would let just anybody else in our lives. That is so true. How have you navigated friendships through this journey? Because, I mean, you've been doing this for a long time, but I'm sure there's people that you have thought, like, are you just around me because of who I'm attached to, or are you here for me?

[B]

Yeah, that, you know, that ebbs and flows, you know, especially being out in the industry, being amongst it. It's one thing to be in an environment where you're kind of like a shark in a pond, and so a lot of focus might be on you and the things that you're doing, but then when you're in an environment where you're not the only one doing what you're Doing and then finding people that are either heading in the direction that you want to be or already there. I think there's a little. You come across people that have just as much to gain and as much to lose, you know, so. So the dynamic is a little different, even with people that aren't necessarily known, but they have shown themselves to be very dependable in ways that I didn't think that I could depend on a person that wasn't my parents, you know? So I was like, man, okay. Clearly, how I'm carrying myself and the content of my character is so enriching that people are opening their homes to me because, you know, I'm in between spots right now or, you know, so I never take that lightly.

[A]

Yeah. That's amazing. When you just said that sometimes you've been in between spots, were there any moments where you're like, oh, my goodness, like, I gotta get it together, or. Because I know for me, when I moved from D.C. to Atlanta, it was a really hard time for me. I moved from Capitol. I was working on Capitol Hill, very secure job, and was like, I want to be an actor and a musician, and I'm going to move to Atlanta and do this thing. And I got to Atlanta. It was one of the hardest years of my entire life. And went through depression, I went through doubt, you know, where I'm just like, is this what I'm supposed to be doing? God. Like, do I. Like you said before, like, do I need to completely, like, restructure this thing?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Did you ever have moments in the journey or where you were just like, oh, this is tough.

[B]

I was ubering and lifting for. From, like, 2016 to 2020.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

And, yes, I was getting recognized as.

[A]

You'Re bringing up people like, wait, are you.

[B]

Yes. Getting asked to sing. And I'm like, babe, I'm just supposed to get you from point A to point B. That's gonna cost you X, right? If you want to tip me. Yeah. Stop playing in my face. There was one time where I ended up all the way out in Calabasas and I needed to pull over. Cause I was nodding. And I thought to myself, I mean, I could go back to Cleveland. My mother would love my company back in Cleveland. However, me. The idea of me sleeping in my car out here is more productive for what I'm trying to do than going back to Cleveland.

[A]

I see what you're saying. Yeah.

[B]

Being comfortable or somewhere where I've now developed an animosity for being. Because I haven't gotten to where I feel I need to be in my career, being in the environment that I need to be in, and so on and so forth. And I just had to thug that out for 375 days.

[A]

Geez. Yeah.

[B]

Just not being able to be comfortable and sleep in because I'm on somebody's couch or I'm in the. Living in the common area. And when they get up for work, like, what you doing? You know what? I'm. A situation where I've been working all night, and then as I'm coming in, they're leaving to go to work. Yeah, that was another thing that. That was actually pretty cool. But, yeah, other than that. Yeah, it's the grind. But then the grind is the. When you get into the hustle, there's a little bit of, like, flow room. Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. Do you feel like you finally find yourself in a flow now? Are you comfortable?

[B]

You know, there was a flow, and now it's just go, go, go, go, go, go, go. Which is a good problem to have. I'm just now reaching for moments of not having to do anything so that I can really rest.

[A]

Yes. I wanted to ask you about that, because when he came in, I was like, how you doing?

[B]

He's like, listen, I'm here. Listen. Okay. And even. Even seeing, you know, certain people seeing me right before I go on stage, there's been times where I rolled out of bed, like, 25 minutes before I had to be on stage, and just. It's like the. Okay, okay, I'm on, I'm on, I'm on, I'm on. Okay, we're here. Like that. That's what it feels like, right? Sometimes when you got them up.

[A]

But, yes, that's a good analogy.

[B]

I would. But I would so much rather be tired and exhausted from doing what I love, from doing what I like, from doing what is effective and adding change, the change that I would like to see in the world. And that is also necessary.

[A]

Yes, it is. Now, are you finding any time to balance that out and take time for you? I know you said you would love to have time just to lay down and do anything. Are you still in those moments at all time? I had to be like, no.

[B]

At least naps good. Like, you know, like, naps are just. See, we slept on naps.

[A]

We did when we were kids.

[B]

But yeah, it's. It's something that is absolutely necessary. I actually now have that blacked out in my schedule when I'm, like, on the road or whatever like this between. I need to be sleeping.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So. But that's that and getting massages.

[A]

That's my plan.

[B]

Deep tissue slash sport massages specifically.

[A]

Yep. I have. My massage therapist is a sports trainer. Like she does sports therapy. So.

[B]

And then. And then stretch lab.

[A]

Wait a minute. Have we met? My massage. It was also trained. Like she's certified in stretch lab. She has a mat that she brings and everything. Yes.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So good.

[B]

So just those two things. An IV every so often. Yeah. Just. Just to keep yourself going. Because it's a lot of wear and tear. It is bouncing from time zones or three shows back to back and they're all in different cities.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You know, so. And there might not be a bus. It might be planes.

[A]

Yeah, no, you're right.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

How has that hustle and bustle taken a toll on your mental. And do you have somebody that you talk to? Because I know for me, as my success and fame grew, I found myself having more anxiety because it was just like so many people pulling at you. And it's a lot. And it's just like, oh, my goodness, like, sometimes you can't even hear your own thoughts. And sometimes you just need to talk to somebody. Do you have someone to talk to or have you been faced with that as things have started to go like that for you?

[B]

So luckily I've never been in a position where I didn't have anyone to talk to.

[A]

That's good.

[B]

Yeah. No, I've left very good counsel and I have a great therapist.

[A]

Amazing.

[B]

But yeah, for the most part, I have access to just safe spaces to be able to not just be handed a yes or what they think I want to hear, you know, but to actually have a rapport with people that have seen you at your best and will hold you to that standard.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's good. Yeah. And you feel like a safe space, you know, like some people, you're like, I don't know, but just even your energy is very calming. It's almost like a juxtaposition from who you are on stage to just sitting on the sofa. Like, oh, yeah, like that. I can tell it's like a totally different person.

[B]

And also too, it's different dimensions of the same person. I would like to think that, you know, in certain spaces, like being around Terrell, I will definitely be bouncing off the walls because he's also bouncing off the walls. But I feel it's also important for people to see the different layers and dimensions of me where I can sit down and have a conversation and still be as engaging you are.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You know, or in Tune, you know?

[A]

Absolutely. I love that. I love that. Is there anything that you would like to tell our audience about you or anything that we may have missed that you want to make sure we get across? I want to make sure. Anything that you want to talk about, we hit on it.

[B]

We have a new project out en route. Okay. For the fancy girls en route. Okay. And it's a story about a road trip. You know, we're going from one, one destination to the other, and we have stories to tell in the midst. We're making sure that even on this journey of ours, we make sure that we make time for rest.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Because there is rest in the work. There's work in the rest.

[A]

That's a bar. We gonna scroll that round the bottom. There's rest in the work.

[B]

There's work in the rest. Must do that and take time to really just take in what's gonna be present. So present that nostalgia won't kick your ass. And tomorrow will not worry you none.

[A]

I love that.

[B]

That's. And then before you know it, 15, 20 years then went by of friendship or just being, you know, in a certain environment that you've been able to, you know, decorate and make your own.

[A]

Right?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. I love that. I love that so much.

[B]

So I have a song on the top 50 dance billboard charts.

[A]

Uh huh.

[B]

And that is with Mr. Kay Trinada.

[A]

That's huge. Yes.

[B]

We've been sitting that since 2021.

[A]

Are you serious? Isn't that crazy how, like, some of the greatest hits can be set on for a while? And you're like, we need to put this out. What made you guys decide now is the time to put it out?

[B]

So we were just recording, went back into the lab after Bubba, the last project, and he was just collecting songs. And then one month he hit me up and was like, okay, it's time to get weird. And I was just like fire. Like, yes. And it already cracked a million streams. Wow.

[A]

That is incredible.

[B]

Yeah. No, this has been. This has been a very productive year thus far. And I really didn't have any other intentions other than what adventures are we gonna go on this, you know, let's go around. That's the best I got.

[A]

I love that. That is amazing. I'm happy for you.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

Yes, yes. Thank you so much.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

So before we close out, if you want to hang out with just a little bit longer, we do what's called positive outcome, where our listeners write in and we give them advice what they write about. All right, so this one Says, hi, Crystal. My name is MARIAH and I'm 26. I'm an aspiring screenwriter author. Some days I feel so confident, like I have the skill and ability and do more than I'm capable. Then other days I feel where I'm not good enough, I'm not smart enough, and I just like to give up. Most people don't know this, but I suffer from schizophrenia, so. So it's double the intrusive thoughts, and I'm constantly getting beaten down by my own mind. About a year ago, I started a new journey of getting to know God all over again, thanks to you. And change church, of course. Aww. It felt so refreshing, and my mind was finally starting to be at ease. That was until I lost my sister and everything was back to square one. Now I'm back to constantly overthinking, feeling worthless, and I don't know how to shake back. I don't really deal with death like anyone else. I tend to just let it fade away and not really face it, but it's tearing me apart mentally. Do you have any advice on how to keep your faith and keep it positive while grieving? I'm losing this battle with myself, and I'm really trying to stay afloat. Wow. Mariah, thank you so much for writing in, and I am so sorry for your loss. I am not very knowledgeable in schizophrenia, but I'm sure that, like you're saying it, you have the double. The intrusive thoughts, and then you're constantly beating yourself down with your own mind. I can't imagine what that battle is like, like an internal battle that you're having. But what I will say is that one, I feel like you should definitely find the professional help that can help you either balance that or medication or any type of holistic routes that you can take to kind of battle that schizophrenia. And then when it comes to loss, everybody deals with grief differently. And you're going to have days where you're okay and days where you're not. It just. It comes and goes. I know I can attest to that. But I would say that I would pray because death is a part of life. And I think a lot of times we hold on to people wanting them to be here forever. And then we allow it to affect us in a way when we know that eventually we're all going to go at point some sometime. So I would find the reality in death and then look at the amazing moments and memories that you built with your sister and focus on that and not the loss as an Entirety. I would also say to continue to work on your relationship with God. Continue to be around like minded, positive people that can inspire you and encourage you to think good of yourself. To tell you the, hey, sis, come on, let's go out. Don't stay in the house. Let's have some fun. Anything that you can do to keep your mind off of the loss that you had and continue to move forward. What would you tell her?

[B]

That last part was key. When we're dealing with loss or change in that way, it's important for us to be around people that are going to uplift us, that are going to end, I guess, in environments where even if the waves do come, we can't revel in it too long. You know, whether that's getting out and going hiking or, you know, going skating, you know, just, again, being around your folks that, you know you're going to get a laugh out of, I think that's really. That's. That's so key. And I know I talk about the destination and the journey, but really it's truly about the company that you have along the way.

[A]

It is.

[B]

That's so true. I look at life as sometimes like a job that we really don't like working or. But if you know, your homegirl Lisa is working that shift, it's like, oh, okay, okay, bet. Like, so look at it like that. Make sure that the folks that you need to be there in that time are working that shift.

[A]

Oh. Ooh, that's good. Thank you so much for that. All right, so we also like to ask our guests if there's something they're going through and what they're growing through. What are you going through and growing through in this season in your life?

[B]

Going through? I'm going through these different tiers of my career where I'm grateful enough to be able to kind of get acclimated with what's going on before I go to the next one. Because, I mean, I could drop a song and then, you know, six months later, the trajectory of my career is just completely a 180. So just making sure that I have people around me that can keep me grounded. And what else? What am I growing through? I guess just finding other things out about myself. What are some other healthy outlets that I can find? What are some people that I haven't met that I could really use around, you know, vice versa.

[A]

Right.

[B]

You know? Yeah. I think the main thing is just to be as present as possible.

[A]

Yeah, that's.

[B]

That's the main.

[A]

That's good. Yeah. I like that. To close out, we do this thing where we fill in the blank. Keep it blank, sweetie.

[B]

Okay?

[A]

And for this episode, I am going to say, keep it creative, sweetie. What would you tell the people?

[B]

Keep it audacious.

[A]

That's the word, honey.

[B]

Sweetie.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

My therapist let me know you have the audacity to be yourself.

[A]

Yes. And it's beautiful. And the world needs more of that. Thank you so much.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

I appreciate you guys. Thank you so much for tuning into this episode of Keep It Popping Positive, Sweetie. If you want to write into our positive outcomes listener letter, you can write into keepit positive, sweetie gmail.com. and that's sweetie with an ie. You can follow me on all platforms at lovechristore. N. And that's Luv Duran. Tell the people they can find you.

[B]

They can find me on the Tik Toks and on the IG and on Twitter. Okay? Your mama named you Twitter. That's what I'm going to call you. That's D U R A N D B E R A N A ara Ara. Okay? The not so quiet summer in your favorite cousin on your daddy side. Okay? Don't you forget it.

[A]

Don't you forget it. All right, guys, that's it for this episode. In the meantime, in between time, you know what to do. Keep it positive, sweetie. Love you guys. So I thank you so much for this opportunity. Thank you for the blessing of just waking up every single day, dear God, and continue to live in our purpose, I ask that you just bless this conversation. Let someone be inspired, let someone be healed, and let someone see themselves in us, dear God, because we know that we are nothing without you. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.