previously the band's fans have been constantly asking them when their debut album was coming out, but fasel maintained the group "weren't ready" to do an album. fasel hoped that the band could "deliver something that everyone can connect to". at this point, none of the band members listened to pop punk, unlike when the band started. fasel listened to emo music while other members listened to "heavier stuff and hardcore." whenever the group wrote a new song they would compare it to a past song, such as "late nights in my car". the band felt under pressure while writing for the album but felt "happier and happier" as time progressed.