Dawn Richard (feat Durand Bernarr) – release new single ‘baby, can we?’

“The ever-evolving Dawn Richard” (New York Times)—the New Orleans-based singer, songwriter, producer and multidisciplinary artist—joins forces with GRAMMY Award-winning vocalist Durand Bernarr for their new single, “baby, can we?” out today via Merge Records. Produced by Katalyst Collective, “baby, can we?” blends lush harmonies, New Orleans soul, progressive R&B, and funk into a warm, vibrant celebration of connection, vulnerability, and possibility.
 
For years, both Richard and Bernarr have built devoted audiences through fearless artistry, boundary-pushing creativity, and a commitment to authenticity. “baby, can we?” brings those worlds together for the first time, pairing Richard’s innovative musical vision with Bernarr’s unmistakable vocal prowess.
 
“Durand is one of the most gifted vocalists and performers of our generation,” says Richard. “I’ve admired his artistry for years. This record gave us the opportunity to create something together that feels joyful, honest, and rooted in genuine connection. At its heart, “baby, can we?” is about being open enough to embrace possibility.”
 
Bernarr shares, “It was only a matter of time before Dawn and I collaborated on a record. As suspected, working together was effortless!  I’ve long respected her innovation as an artist and the way she continues to evolve while remaining true to herself. I hope y’all enjoy the record as much as we enjoyed making it!”
 
Accompanying the release is a video directed by Dawn and Carl Harrison Jr., expanding the song’s celebration of joy, intimacy, culture, and movement.
 

“baby, can we?” follows last year’s “sexy, confident” (Stereogum) single, “A FLEX,” and is another taste of Dawn’s next chapter. After exploring new lanes within her genre-bending projects with Spencer Zahn, including 2022’s Pigments and 2024’s Quiet in a World Full of Noise, “A FLEX” and “baby, can we?” see Dawn stepping back into the lineage of 2021’s Second Line with the futurism and brass-soaked swagger of her King Creole era.