In recent years, the art-soul explorer Dawn Richard has been venturing further and further into abstract directions, as on Quiet In A World Full Of Noise, her 2024 collaboration with Spencer Zahn. Now, she seems to be switching it up once again. Recently, Richard returned to the public eye when she sued her former boss and collaborator Sean Combs for sexual abuse and testified against him in his criminal trial. In December, she released the slinky, funky single "A Flex." Today, she drops another single that calls back to classic '90s R&B.
Richard's new song "baby, can we?" is a warm, smooth duet with Durand Bernarr, the Cleveland-born singer whose 2025 album BLOOM won the Grammy for Best Progressive R&B Album. The LA-based jazz crew known as the Katalyst Collective produced the song, and they co-wrote it with Richard and Bernarr. In a press release, Richard says:
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.
Richard co-directed the song's video with Carl Harrison Jr., and it's honestly beautiful. Its Richard, resplendent in gold, hanging out at what appears to be a New Orleans park, hitting line-dances with locals. Check it out below.
"baby, can we?" is out now on Merge.
