Julian Lennon gives fans a look "Through the Picture Window" with new documentary

Julian Lennon is a musician, photographer and a filmmaker. You can also add cook to that list. Some may not know this, but John Lennon’s son is very good in the kitchen, revealing that if he weren't a singer or visual artist, he’d likely be a chef.

But recipes weren't the reason why Lennon stopped by CBSNews.com last week. He was here to tell the story behind “Everything Changes,” his fifth studio album and the first to hit the U.S. in 15 years. The set comes nearly 30 years after Lennon unveiled his debut, “Vallotte,” which spawned the hit “Too Late for Goodbyes” and earned a young Lennon a best new artist Grammy nomination.

Ever since he's been in and out of the music industry, exploring his other passions during those long stints in between albums. “I love the writing and recording and performing but all the business stuff in between is not something I care for too much...In regards to all the work I do I very much consider it from an angle of being a true artist," said Lennon. "And a lot of use of was being made of whose son I was, Beatles...and all of that. And I wanted to push away from that – and I wanted to prove myself –- to myself first and foremost –- that was actually I guess as good as I think I am in the songwriting department and all the work I'm doing.”

But a couple of years ago, the timing for new music just felt right, so Lennon, 50, hit the studio to record the tracks for “Everything Changes." The songs that made it on the album span many themes –- from romance and introspection to humanitarian concerns. The lead single, "Someday," features mystical Eastern melodic motifs, as well as a guest appearance by Steven Tyler.

The Aerosmith frontman is one of the many people featured in the upcoming Lennon documentary, "Through the Picture Window," due out next month. Available as both a physical DVD and an app, the project will also feature 14 videos and another 14 acoustic versions from "Everything Changes." There's also footage of Lennon's photography exhibits and an inside look at his White Feather Foundation.

Mostly, the documentary gives insight into who Lennon is today. The Lennon I met is laid back, passionate, comfortable with himself and serious about his career. He says he tweets and updates his Facebook page on a regular basis -- and enjoys it.

"Through the Picture Window" explores the many sides of Lennon by showing the recording process of the album and providing a behind-the-scenes look at Lennon the photographer.

"It [the documentary] deals with some of the past issues, a lot of ideas and thoughts," he said. "There was a lot of realizations that came to be out of doing the documentary because it involves of dear, dear friends from the music industry as well, like Bono, and many other guys who have been around and observed me from the early days. And they put their two cents in, too."

For more on the documentary and Lennon’s life, check out our sit-down interview with him above.