Broadly speaking, "Shoals" is a record about living with—and processing—fear, touching on important themes like the subconscious, dreams, and existentialism. Twelve compelling tracks offer compelling reflections on some of life's biggest questions. The album's title is inspired by the seemingly unpredictable behavior of a school of fish, which can change rapidly in the same way our fears and anxieties about the world around us can. As frontman Leo Wyndham explains, "The album explores and questions what's tangible—what truly matters, as well as the afterlife and the fear of it. The fear of existing and the fear of dying."
