It is Amos's first studio album since Midwinter Graces (2009) to feature her typical backing band of Matt Chamberlain on drums, Jon Evans on bass, and Mac Aladdin on guitar.

Musically, the album retains her signature piano-centric sound; her daughter Natashya Hawley contributes backing vocals on three tracks.

[4] Instead, Amos wrote and recorded a new batch of songs inspired by "the county [Cornwall]'s landscapes and ancient myths".

[2] Due to Cornwall being under lockdown during the pandemic, all instruments aside from the piano were recorded outside of Martian Engineering Studios without Amos's presence.

[4][verification needed] Tracks were first sent to Chamberlain and then to Evans, with string arrangements by John Philip Shenale or backing vocals by Tash being the last additions.

[6] Amos referenced the detrimental effect of lockdown on personal relationships as an inspiration on the song's lyrics, citing her separation from her niece as a result of the pandemic.

[7] Lead single "Speaking with Trees" directly confronts the death of Amos' mother and contains themes of connection to nature.

[4][verification needed] Speaking about a track named "Ballerina": There was a song on the (shelved) record ...called 'Ballerina' and I'm not sure how that got conjured.