Two of R&B’s independent forces have united. Dawn Richard has teamed with Durand Bernarr for her new single “Baby, Can We?”
Produced by Katalyst Collective, “Baby, Can We?” flips Aretha Franklin‘s 1972 classic “Day Dreaming” into a gumbo of R&B, soul, and funk, with a dash of hip-hop. Lyrically, the song captures the desire to flee from daily life with a potential lover.
“Hey, baby, let’s get away, let’s go somewhere, huh / Baby, can we / Keep this thing on low down / Nobody has to know now,” Richard sings in the opening verse. Bernarr responds, “It’s so nice to see that I can just be / Don’t have to perform, I get to be me.”
Speaking on her new collaboration, Richard said, “Durand is one of the most gifted vocalists and performers of our generation. 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 added, “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!”
“Baby, Can We?” is the second single from Richard’s upcoming album via Merge Records. She launched her new era last December with her confident anthem, “A Flex,” also produced by Katalyst Collective.
“The track is the kind of confidence that only I can give in my records,” Richard said of “A Flex.” “Dipped in legacy, the kind of flex that comes from survival, culture, and craft. It signals a new album on the way, one that continues my mission of building worlds through sound, movement, and memory.”
Richard’s upcoming album will mark her first solo release since 2021’s Second Line. In October 2024, she joined forces with multi-instrumentalist Spencer Zahn for their collaborative LP, Quiet in a World Full of Noise.
As for Bernarr, the Grammy-winning singer released his fourth album, BERNARR., in May. He is gearing up to join Kehlani on The Kehlani World Tour, which kicks off Aug. 6.
Listen to Dawn Richard and Durand Bernarr’s “Baby, Can We?” below.
