Feature: Alwyn Morrison Decodes “Lenox Hill”
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind "Lenox Hill" and the story it tells?
I started by writing the chorus while walking around New York. I was actually singing it out loud, not realizing people were staring at me until I figured out it was because the song wasn’t just in my head – it was real! That’s when I realized the chorus of “Lenox Hill” had come to life. From there, I wrote the verses and brought the song to my good friend, Michael Kooman, who helped me compose it. We spent a lot of time going back and forth on the melody for the verses and the bridge. Honestly, I spent months obsessing over our little piano demo. Then I took it to LA, where I recorded it at Michael Carey’s studio. That’s when Michael really worked his magic. He took our simple piano version and transformed it into this beautiful synth-pop power ballad. It ended up capturing everything I wanted: that feeling of love and loss. At the heart of it, it’s a love song, and it tells the story of a relationship from the excitement of meeting someone to the heartbreak of not seeing them again when things don’t work out. Working with Michael and the team really helped bring that vision to life.
How did you work with the producer or engineers to bring your vision for this song to life?
I feel very blessed that I get to make music with close friends who are also incredible musicians. Songwriting has always been a way for me to express myself. One of the best things over the last few years has been stepping into more collaborations and working closely with other artists. By teaming up with friends who bring their own unique skills to the table, I’ve been able to blend my personal style with their influences, which has helped shape the final sound. This mix of my own discovery and their expertise has really brought my vision to life, creating something special that I couldn’t have done alone.
What was your favorite moment in making the music video?
Honestly, putting a piano in the middle of Central Park was probably the most surreal moment of making the music video. I never thought I'd actually be able to pull it off, but I just had this gut feeling it would look amazing – cinematic and unique. Then, I got this idea to tell a love story through the video, almost like a short film. I was so inspired by the whole concept that I ended up writing the script and casting some really talented actors. We shot everything over five days with my good friend and videographer, Denice Flores Almendares. We were just so into it, we didn’t want to stop, even when filming B-roll. The neighborhood and Central Park at night were just stunning. The editing process was also incredible – working with Scott Mele, who’s worked with artists like Shania Twain and Kelsea Ballerini, was such an honor. It was definitely one of my favorite parts of the whole experience.
What inspired you to pursue a career in music?
Music has just always been a part of my life. From a young age, I played a variety of instruments and even spent years performing in my school orchestra. But the real turning point for me was songwriting. I never really planned on recording and releasing music, honestly. Just writing songs, whether by myself or with others, brings me so much joy that I could’ve been happy just keeping them as little demos. But eventually, the creative process naturally pushed me to want to share what I was making with other people. That’s when I realized music was something I wanted to pursue more seriously. Once I started recording, I also discovered how much I loved collaborating with other musicians, and that made the whole journey even more exciting.
What is your songwriting process like? How do you usually start crafting a new song?
Sometimes my songwriting process starts with a line or a word that keeps sticking with me, and other times it’s just me writing down thoughts and feelings that are hard to say out loud. I write a lot when I’m traveling, especially on airplanes, or right before falling asleep late at night. One thing I truly enjoy is collaborating and sharing my lyrics and songs with other musicians, even if it’s just a quick voice memo on my phone. I love seeing how they bring their own spin to it, whether it’s changing a lyric, tweaking the melody, adding a bridge, or taking out a verse, like making a pre-chorus longer. I find all of that so fulfilling from a creative perspective.
