Cakes da Killa composed the album with Sam Katz and Joshua McCormick.

Cakes da Killa writes about dating in New York City through the lens of a svengali, a person who seduces and manipulates others.

[1][2] In an interview with Flood magazine, Cakes da Killa shares that the project is about love and draws parallels between relationships between lovers, fans, and music more generally.

Pitchfork writer Dylan Green called the album "...a smooth balance of anxiety and aggression, love and lust, confidence and vulnerability.

"[6] Tara Joshi wrote for The Observer that Svengali is a "sleek, enticing record that certifies Cakes da Killa’s place at the forefront of this sound".