Stevens primarily recorded the album in his home studio, with contributions from friends, including harmonies by Adrienne Maree Brown, Hannah Cohen, Pauline Delassus, Megan Lui, and Nedelle Torrisi. Bryce Dessner of The National added acoustic and electric guitar. The album marks Stevens' return to "full singer-songwriter mode" since his 2015 release, Carrie & Lowell. While it may feel like a large production, each track reflects Stevens' solo work, capturing a sentiment of ’70s Los Angeles studio opulence. The album is dedicated to his late partner, Evans Richardson.