Rook Monroe has always created from a place of instinct, guided less by strategy than by a kind of spiritual chaos that seems to sharpen, rather than scatter, his artistic voice. The Chicago-born songwriter and producer first stumbled into music by accident, only to become a behind-the-scenes force for artists like Rihanna, The Chainsmokers, Aminé, and Jeremih. His breakout as a solo artist was equally undeniable: nearly 30 million global streams from his 2020 debut Californialand cemented him as a visionary with a world entirely his own.
Now, with SLIM., his bold new EP and first release under Warner Records, Monroe steps into a fully realized chapter, one that defies genre, embraces vulnerability, and reflects the many cities, selves, and sounds he’s absorbed along the way. Rooted in punk spirit, rap swagger, and the emotional grit of R&B, the project unravels like a tour through Monroe’s inner world: beat switches lurking around every corner, vocal contortions that stretch and snap, and a creative freedom forged through years of writing for others before finally turning the lens inward.
We chat with Rook Monroe all about chaos as a guiding force, identity as a lifelong excavation, and originality as both a responsibility and a relief. SLIM. isn’t just a collection of songs, it’s a summary of his brain, a portrait of an artist confronting himself in real time, and an invitation for listeners to rediscover their own sense of wonder.
SLIM. is described as a “genre-obliterating tour de force.” When you started creating this EP, did you have a clear sonic vision, or did the chaos lead the way?
Oh chaos leads the way for sure. Pure chaos. But pure in the sense of spiritual. I've always only been the vessel and now, more than ever, I understand that.
How would you summarize the emotional and creative world of SLIM. for someone pressing play for the first time
It's just emotional. My version, but emotional nonetheless. People like getting to know the artist and SLIM. is the summary of my brain.
You’ve worked with artists like Rihanna and The Chainsmokers. How does your approach differ when making music for yourself versus writing for other artists?
I channel missing pieces of others when I write for them. There are a ton of aspects to myself, and I display that over the course of hundreds to thousands of songs, some may never get to hear, but hopefully they do. SLIM. is a proper introduction to these aspects.
The EP mixes punk, rap, pop, R&B, funk, and more. Was there a specific moment where you realized genre constraints just didn’t apply to you anymore?
After writing for so many types of people, you naturally loosen any restraints holding you back, if you're doing it right.
Do you have a favorite track on the EP and if so what is it and why?
Not big on favorites in general, but if I had to pick, maybe "Polaroid" because I intend to do a lot of individual songs that not only bring albums back, but also, show how seamlessly they can be Frankenstein'd together with proper arrangements.
The EP deals with identity, individuality, and creative freedom. What part of yourself did you discover, or confront, while making SLIM.?
This project is about what I did once I fully discovered who I am in the midst of all that chaos we mentioned earlier. I confronted myself as a person in order to make this project, and it's displayed throughout its musicality and lyric.
You’ve moved through Chicago, Southern California, and Miami before rooting yourself in Los Angeles. How have those places shaped your voice and perspective?
Not just living in these places, but traveling the world has shaped me in more ways than I probably even notice. My friends call me a master sponge.
With nearly 30 million streams as an independent artist before signing with Warner, what does this new chapter represent in your career?
I'd say it represents me being ready to showcase an identity in a world that's begging for originality. I'd know, I've always been one of the ones begging for it too.
What do you hope listeners feel after spending time in the sonic universe of SLIM.
Easy. A sense of relief that accompanies a reconnected sense of wonder in a world where wonder is questioned with algorithms and societal standpoints.
Now that SLIM. is out in the world, what’s next for Rook Monroe?
The simplest answer is whatever's thrown in front of me.
Connect with Rook Monroe: INSTAGRAM
