The Monxarella project arose from a desire to reinterpret Monk's music in a varied and new way. Kunkel deliberately works without overdubs and uses various instruments simultaneously, including the chord zither, bass clarinet, basset horn, alto zither, harp zither, and shruti box, which he plays with his foot. The different timbres are intended to evoke a bittersweet nostalgia. He was inspired by Monk's solo albums "Thelonious Himself" and "Thelonious Alone in San Francisco," which reveal a freer, more intimate side of the pianist. In addition to Monk compositions, Monxarella also includes free improvisations that reflect Monk's innovative spirit.