studios writing pop songs and writing songs for the TV show Smash. After this, he worked on songs for a solo EP; The Pop Underground EP was released in April 2013. McMahon then earned a support slot for O.A.R. on their headlining US tour between June and August. Around this time, McMahon received an Emmy nomination for Smash and found new management. They suggested he take time off from touring to work on new songs. Following this, he stayed alone in a cabin in Topanga Canyon, near Los Angeles, California, in August. He spent the weekdays writing for his debut solo album, and the weekends at home with his pregnant wife. He worked 10 hours per day, sat at his piano, and wrote batches of songs every week. Collectively, he spent two months at the cabin. Production Following his time in Topanga Canyon, McMahon began working with producer Mike Viola in his Echo Park garage studio. McMahon took what he enjoyed while making the EP, namely the concept of going into a studio and working on something in a timely manner and applied it to the album's sessions. In December 2013, McMahon and Viola came up with a demo of "High Dive". It featured a piano, programmed drums and guitar; after muting the guitar track, the pair were surprised at the clarity of the piano against the rest of the recording. They realized they could work around the production without needing to have too many layers to focus on. This subsequently became the production template for the rest of the album. A friend of McMahon's liked the work of songwriter James Flannigan and suggested that McMahon work with him. The two of them with Flannigan's writing partner, Anders Grahn, collaborated on songs in Hollywood. After an impressive session, Flannigan was invited to help complete the album with McMahon and Viola. When the trio met for the first time, McMahon cautioned them he might have to leave at a moment's notice as his wife was due to give birth any day. His daughter Cecilia was born in February 2014; despite this, sessions continued into April. McMahon and his manager contacted Vanguard Records (who McMahon knew through friends) after more than half the album had been recorded and began working with them. McMahon, Flannigan and Viola worked in a variety of production areas at studios in Los Angeles to finish the album.