
Dawn Richard is back in her bag, and this time she’s linked up with music’s hottest man right now, Durand Bernarr.
The New Orleans-bred singer, songwriter, producer, and all-around creative force has released her new single “baby, can we?” featuring GRAMMY-winning vocalist Durand Bernarr. The track arrived June 16 via Merge Records and gives fans a fresh taste of Dawn’s next musical chapter.
Produced by Katalyst Collective, “baby, can we?” blends the warmth of New Orleans soul with progressive R&B, funk, and smooth, feel-good grooves. Dawn and Durand’s voices glide together effortlessly, creating a duet that feels both nostalgic and forward-thinking. The song also nods to classic soul with an interpolation of Aretha Franklin’s 1972 favorite “Day Dreaming.”
Dawn praised Durand’s artistry, calling him “one of the most gifted vocalists and performers of our generation,” and that chemistry is felt all over the record. At its core, the song is about openness, connection, and allowing yourself to embrace possibility.
The single also comes with a visual co-directed by Dawn and Carl Harrison Jr., showing Dawn glowing in gold while moving through a joyful New Orleans setting with locals, line dancing, and community energy at the center.
“baby, can we?” follows Dawn’s 2024 collaborative album Quiet in a World Full of Noise with Spencer Zahn, as well as her single “A FLEX.” For Durand, the collaboration continues a major run following the success of his GRAMMY-winning album BLOOM.
Stream “baby, can we?” now.
