For far too long, we’ve been told that what matters most is getting ahead. The me. Our own success. Our own goals. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why the world has become increasingly individualistic. Somewhere along the way, we seem to have forgotten that we’re not here alone. That some of life’s greatest moments only become meaningful when they’re shared. That togetherness is one of the greatest strengths we have. And that shared joy is, after all, the most beautiful kind of joy.
With We Dream, Grammy-nominated saxophonist, composer and bandleader Lakecia Benjamin reminds us of exactly that. Her new album is an ode to community, compassion and the power of dreaming together. As she tells us: “None of my dreams happened alone. Every opportunity I’ve had was made possible by mentors, teachers, family, community, and people who believed in me. We live in a culture that often celebrates individual achievement, but I’ve learned that the most meaningful accomplishments are collective. The title reflects the idea that our futures are interconnected. When one person rises, it creates opportunities for others.”
Perhaps that’s the kind of hope we need most today—not the kind that ignores reality or slips into naïve idealism, but the kind that encourages us to choose kindness, togetherness and possibility. As Lakecia tells us, “The hope I was searching for wasn’t naïve optimism. It was the belief that even in difficult times we can choose compassion, connection, and imagination.”
Raised in New York and shaped by the city’s endless movement and beautiful contradictions, Lakecia Benjamin has carved out a voice that feels entirely her own. While collaborations with artists such as Prince, Stevie Wonder and Alicia Keys speak to the remarkable path she’s travelled, what draws you in reaches far beyond the music itself. Fashion, spirituality, femininity and cultural memory intertwine with every performance, creating a world where radiant gold, bold silhouettes and fearless self-expression become part of the story long before the first note is played.
For C-Heads, we caught up with Lakecia Benjamin to talk about the power of dreaming together, female empowerment, New York’s unmistakable rhythm, fashion as a language of its own, and why imagination may be one of our greatest acts of resistance.
Images courtesy of Lakecia Benjamin Press
We Dream arrives at a moment when many people are feeling uncertainty and division. You describe the album as an attempt to be “a bright light in a dark space.” What led you to create this record, and what kind of hope were you searching for?
I was looking for a reminder that we still belong to one another. Everywhere I looked, I saw people becoming more isolated, more divided, and more afraid. At the same time, I was traveling the world and witnessing how much humanity actually shares. Music has always been a place where people can come together despite differences, and I wanted this album to reflect that possibility. The hope I was searching for wasn’t naïve optimism. It was the belief that even in difficult times we can choose compassion, connection, and imagination.
The title We Dream feels both intimate and collective. Why was it important for you to focus on the idea of a shared dream rather than a personal one?
Because none of my dreams happened alone. Every opportunity I’ve had was made possible by mentors, teachers, family, community, and people who believed in me. We live in a culture that often celebrates individual achievement, but I’ve learned that the most meaningful accomplishments are collective. The title reflects the idea that our futures are interconnected. When one person rises, it creates opportunities for others. This album is a celebration of that collective possibility.
Throughout your career, you’ve drawn inspiration from spiritual, cultural, and historical lineages. What dreams from previous generations — whether from your family, your community, or the artists who came before you — do you feel you’re carrying forward on this album?
I think about that every day. I carry the dreams of my ancestors, my family, my teachers, and the artists who paved the way before me. I think about people like John and Alice Coltrane, who used music as a vehicle for spiritual growth and collective healing. I think about the civil rights generation and their vision of a more just world. I think about my own community in New York and the people who invested in me as a young musician. We Dream is really a continuation of those dreams. It’s my contribution to a conversation that began long before I arrived and will continue long after I’m gone.
“I was looking for a reminder that we still belong to one another.”
Your visual presence is incredibly distinctive. Whether on stage, in photographs or on your album artwork, you radiate confidence through gold tones, bold silhouettes and luminous styling. Is fashion part of your artistic language? What role do clothing, colour and style play in expressing who you are?
Absolutely. Fashion is another form of storytelling for me. Music is something people hear, but visual presentation is something they feel before a single note is played. I love color, texture, and imagery because they help communicate energy, possibility, and joy. Gold often represents light, abundance, and transformation. Many of my visual choices are connected to the same themes that appear in my music — hope, empowerment, spirituality, and imagination. I want people to feel inspired the moment they see the artwork or walk into the room.
New York has always been a city of reinvention, movement and cultural collisions. As someone deeply rooted there, how has the city’s energy shaped both your sound and your outlook on life?
New York taught me how to listen. It’s one of the few places where every culture, every language, and every musical tradition exists side by side. Growing up here exposed me to an incredible range of influences and perspectives. It taught me to embrace diversity rather than fear it. Musically, New York encouraged me to take risks and develop my own voice. Spiritually, it taught me resilience. It’s a city that constantly challenges you to grow.
When you think of New York today, what does it sound like to you? Are there particular neighbourhoods, rhythms or everyday moments that still find their way into your music?
New York sounds like possibility. It sounds like subway musicians, church choirs, hip-hop blasting from a passing car, jazz clubs, conversations on street corners, and people from every part of the world sharing the same space. There’s a rhythm to New York that never really leaves you. The city’s energy, urgency, and diversity continue to influence the way I write and perform. Every time I step on stage, a little bit of New York comes with me.
You brought together an extraordinary group of collaborators for We Dream — artists who continually redefine what’s possible. Beyond their musical contributions, what qualities do you admire most in them?
What connects all of them is courage. Every artist on this record has been willing to take risks, challenge expectations, and remain authentic in the face of pressure. They each have a strong sense of purpose and individuality. Beyond their technical brilliance, they’re people who continue to evolve and grow. That’s what inspires me most. They remind me that artistry isn’t about perfection — it’s about curiosity, honesty, and the willingness to keep discovering.
“Artistry isn’t about perfection—it’s about curiosity, honesty, and the willingness to keep discovering.”
After working with icons such as Prince, Stevie Wonder and Alicia Keys, surviving a near-fatal car accident and receiving multiple Grammy nominations, has your definition of success changed?
Absolutely. Earlier in my career, success was often tied to accomplishments, opportunities, and recognition. Those things are wonderful, but life has taught me that they aren’t the whole story. Surviving difficult experiences showed me how precious life really is. Today, success means creating meaningful work, maintaining genuine relationships, continuing to grow, and making a positive impact on other people. If my music helps someone feel less alone, more hopeful, or more connected, that’s success to me.
Ultimately, We Dream feels like an invitation to imagine a better future. If listeners leave the album carrying just one feeling, one thought or one dream, what do you hope it will be?
I hope they leave believing that a better future is possible. I hope they remember that love is stronger than fear, that community is stronger than division.
Check out We Dream: lakeciabenjamin.ffm.to/we-dream
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