We sat down with lawyer, writer, and storyteller Christopher Lawyer—known artistically as The Lonious Monk—to explore his debut album, “Songs to Feel To” (released August 1, 2026). For years, Chris harbored a rich imagination and a deep love for storytelling and music. Leveraging the creative possibilities of modern AI tools as an arranging vehicle, he has transformed his narrative vision into an immersive, 13-track conceptual odyssey.
The album takes listeners through ten distinct emotional states, cleanly split into a narrative arc that moves from darkness to resolution. By pairing each emotion with a genre that amplifies its weight—from the aggressive metal of “Anger” to smooth soul on “Pleasure”—and grounding the entire project in a dynamic jazz foundation, Songs to Feel To is designed not just to be heard, but experienced. Below, Chris opens up about navigating musical scales, crafting balance out of emotional turmoil, and using music as a compass for the human experience.
Interview with The Lonious Monk
The Lonious Monk: I’m a jazz fan, and I feel llike Monk was one of those artists that really encapsulated what jazz is all about. So my name is homage to him. As far as how it reflects my transition, I believe it feeds into the use of jazz in the music I make. A problem with AI assisted music is that it can sound derivative. Jazz by its very nature is dynamic and versatile. I feel that using it as a base and mixing it with elements of other genres helps me create songs that sound fresh despite their origin.
The Lonious Monk: When I first came up with the album concept, I wanted to make sure that for every emotion represented, I also had a suitable counterpart. At first I had the songs arranged where each pair was played in sequence. Then I realized that if I started with the bad and transitioned to the good, it would make the album feel more like a journey that ends on a high note. I thought that would serve the work better.
The Lonious Monk: Honestly, that part was pretty easy. In most cases, the answer just jumped out at me. The two songs you mentioned are good examples. What would fit anger better than a metal track or pleasure better than a smooth soul track? When you look at other examples like blues for pain or a nice upbeat reggae track for Hope, they all just seem like no-brainers.
The Lonious Monk: I was surprised how closely I could get the songs to fit my vision. Going into using the tool, I was skeptical. I knew it would be able to produce songs, but I thought they would all be generic sounding. The more I tinkered with it, the more I understood how it worked and how to draw out what I wanted. Choosing the right genre was important for translating the emotional concepts. I also had to do a little research for myself. For example, I learned about music concepts like the Phrygian Dominant and Locrian Mode scales. Those are used to give songs a more menacing or sinister sound. I was able to use that knowledge in my prompting when creating the song “Fear,” and that led to me getting the exact sound I wanted.
The Lonious Monk: As a writer first and foremost, I had to do my best with the lyrics. I had to make every song meaningful. I also strove to approach each subject from a different direction. “Fear” explores what that feeling actually is how it affects you while “Pain” is more about overcoming the challenge that the feeling represents. From there, picking the right genre and right arrangement of songs was important, I think. There’s balance in the album. “Anxiety” might be heavy but “Peace” is more uplifting. Ultimately, I wanted the album to be like a story, and every good story has high and low points.
The Lonious Monk: Going from “Anxiety” straight into “Joy” might have been too abrupt a transition. I think the interlude serves more like a reset back to balance. “The Bad (Intro),” “The Good (Interlude),” and “Feelings (Outro)” all use variations of the same track and they are meant to serve as that middle ground. So while “Anxiety” might have you low, “The Good” gives you a smoother transtion into the highs. Both “The Bad” and “The Good” serve as roadmaps for the journies you’re about to take with the following songs.
The Lonious Monk: Modern culture may push us in that direction, but the truth is we’re not very good at it. We all feel both the good and the bad. I’m a big believer in the importance of balance. In “Hope” I had a line “You have to know lows to appreciate the highs.” I really believe that. You’re going to go through bad times. You can try to numb yourself to those feelings, but it doesn’t necessarily work. I feel like it’s better to engage and fully experience whatever you go through. That way you’ll be able to achieve that balance. You won’t be crushed by the bad feelings, and you won’t be be disarmed by the good ones.
The Lonious Monk: That probably was the hardest part of creating the album, and I don’t know how well I solved that problem. If someone hears “Hate” and really likes that vibe, I don’t necessarily know how they’d feel about “Love.” I feel like the album offers something for everyone, but the people that will really enjoy the work as a whole are most likely those who either love music in all its forms or appreciate a good narrative and are willing to sit through a whole story arc even if one particular section doesn’t resonate with them. I feel like the concept itself provides the necessary cohesion to tie everything together, but I can accept that, for some, the genre transitions might be offputting. That said, I did use jazz as a base for every song, so that thread runs through the entire album. I hope every listener can grab onto that and follow it from beginning to end.
The Lonious Monk: Feelings are an integral part of the human experience, and we all have them. They may manifest differently for each of us, but no one is truly alone in what they are experiencing. If you’re going through painful or fearful times, it might help to know others have gone through them too. If they overcame those points in their lives and moved onto something brighter, so can you. If you’re experiencing the good times, you should indulge in them, but also understand that nothing lasts forever. There will eventually be a downward turn, but you can make it through. Ultimately, the better you understand your feelings, the better you know how to use them to help you navigate through different periods of your life.
The Lonious Monk: In truth, I’m a pretty subdued person when it comes to expressing feelings. Someone who heard “Anxiety” thought I captured the feeling so well because I have bouts with it. I don’t really, but I can understand it. Creating this album, helped me see that, while my hills and valleys may not be as extreme as others, they are still there. Understanding that can only help me as I navigate through my own life and engage with others.
Summary
With “Songs to Feel To,” The Lonious Monk has constructed a thoughtful, multi-genre framework that honors the full spectrum of human emotion. By anchoring every track in jazz theory while letting individual genres paint the light and shadow of each feeling, the album offers a steady narrative hand through life’s inevitable ups and downs. It stands as a compelling testament to how storytelling and technology can converge to foster emotional balance and connection. Stream Songs to Feel To on all digital platforms today to experience the journey for yourself.
