The Sonic Architects | benjamincousins

"What We Dream it to Be" Album Release

JANUARY 16th, 2026

THE
ALBUM

“What We Dream It to Be” is a forward-looking, reflective debut from New Orleans clarinetist and composer Benjamin Cousins. Reconnecting with the optimistic sensibilities of childhood, the album explores the impact of honoring our dreams and realizing their full potential. Featuring collaborators Matt Sewell, Brian Richburg Jr., Wilfie Williams, and Dan Winshall, Cousins navigates the emotional terrain of emerging adulthood — from internal conflict to moral crossroads — ultimately home is what we dream it to be.

THE
BAND

Inspired by the practice of manifestation and the transformative powers of music, The Sonic Architects project presents music that reflects on our lived experiences, transporting listeners through a diverse palette of sonic spaces—offering stories of the past and visions of optimism for the future.

Album Preview Here!

"Ben Cousins doesn’t just play the clarinet... he sings through it, with a story infused with artistry and mystery. Sensitivity and nuance are at the core of Ben’s playing, bringing a new perspective that intrigues listeners to intimately connect."

Harry Skoler

Clarinet Professor, Berklee College of Music

THE
ARTIST

Contemporary Clarinetist and Composer Benjamin Cousins hails from New Orleans, Louisiana. His dark and woody clarinet sound, undeniably rooted in the rich tradition of his hometown evokes iconic clarinetist like Sidney Bechet, while his vernacular and compositional voice carries forward the legacy of New Orleans contemporaries like Alvin Batiste.

Cousins Uniquely rooted yet modern voice awarded him an endorsement through Selmer Paris and a Community Partnership grant through the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation. These honors early in his career reflect his commitment to the New Orleans’ music legacy and potential as an impactful voice in contemporary landscape.

For Full Artist Bio Click Here!

Single Waiting on Tomorrows

out November 11, 2025