Youth Lagoon's third album Savage Hills Ballroom is rooted in discomfort, rather than avoiding it. Influenced by society's desire to exude a flawless existence, the album's musical direction and visual aspects were conceived on Powers' late-night walks through Idaho's suburbs. "When I see rows and rows of seemingly ideal houses, I can't help but think that humanity has an innate craving to look perfect. And usually the better someone's life seems from the outside, the more they're hiding," states Powers. "I've had a lot of barriers for a long time that I haven't let people past, and I've gotten really sick of playing pretend."