Contrast mainly includes production from The Invisible Men, who produced seven of the fourteen songs available on the album, along with production from Pharrell Williams, Stargate, Benny Blanco, Midi Mafia, Crada, Lucas Secon, Quiz & Larossi, and Eagle Eye, among others, and features guest appearances from American recording artists Ne-Yo and Pharrell Williams, as well as British singer Rita Ora.

On 20 May 2006, Maynard signed up to online video-sharing website YouTube and in 2008 uploaded his very first video of him singing "Breathe" by fellow British musician Lee Carr.

[8] In November 2011, Maynard received a nomination for MTV's Brand New for 2012 award, competing alongside Delilah, Michael Kiwanuka, Lana Del Rey and Lianne La Havas.

The single was met with positive reviews, with Lewis Corner (of Digital Spy) describing it as "playful, fun and immediately leaves you wanting another go",[13] whilst others compared Maynard to Canadian singer Justin Bieber; both vocally and career-wise.

[17] Lewis Corner of Digital Spy criticized Maynard's lyrics for being "mismatch with his boy-next-door persona", ultimately stating the songs feel "like a by-product of his mentors rather than an expression of his teenage self."

Levine also states Justin Timberlake's influence on Maynard, specifically referring to the song "Glass Girl" as being an "attempt to rewrite JT's Cry Me a River for the dubstep generation.