[1] The songwriting process for the record began in 2015, before Half Alive was formed, during a challenge in which lead singer Josh Taylor would try to write 50 songs along with drummer Brett Kramer.

"[3] They spent that year recording three of the 50 songs in a converted helicopter hangar in the Mojave Desert alongside producer James Krausse, and released them as an extended play titled 3 in 2017.

For example, some lodgings had rules forbidding an excess of noise on pain of being forced out of them, so the group consequently wrote without percussion parts; these constraints "inspired what the songs turned into.

The trio stated in an interview that "with all [their] backgrounds combined it creates a blend of thoughtful musical ideas that still have a wide audience focus."

Music journalists have noted that the band "wear their religion proudly," influencing both the musical and lyrical aspects of the record; the album includes a number of "gospel-like anthems" and the penultimate track "Breakfast" includes choral vocals, while the lyrics of the final song "Creature" feature allusions to creation.

The album contains a brief interlude titled "The Notion", which is a voice message sent by Liz Ord, a UK-based model, to a member of JA Collective, who perform choreography with the band, during which she expresses surprise and comfort at the fact that all the people the recipient of the message tours with have "faith," and further says: "I find it so rare meeting people who are young and believe here.

"[11] Half Alive made their late-night television debut with an elaborately choreographed performance of "Still Feel" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

[30][33] The group subsequently announced that they would be embarking on tour beginning on August 16, 2019 in Sydney, Australia (excluding their appearance at the Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Delaware on June 22) and concluding on November 17, 2019, in Glasgow, Scotland.

was premiered on July 31 at 10 AM PST on Zane Lowe's Beats 1 show as that day's "World Record", and was also accompanied by its music video.

[45][46] NPR shared the band's "Tiny Desk Concert" on the 12th of the month, in which the trio played "Runaway", "Still Feel" and "Ice Cold".

[51] Music Week writer Ben Homewood considered it "coated in good vibes" due to its songs' "natural gloss" and "modern studio sheen.

[20] Lucy Mapstone of the Belfast Telegraph stated that although the album contains "moments erring on the more challenging side," it overall "is a coherent, peppy, vibrant offering from the California up-and-comers.