Swapping his usual digital computer-reliant workflow for a more classic approach, Butler started all his ideas for The Seams on acoustic guitar, ruminating on these ideas for months before taking them to the studio to flesh out the full arrangements. Whereas his earlier work was defined by glossy pop production, The Seams is deliberately raw, brought to life with a purposefully restricted sonic palette consisting of guitars, live drums, strings, and an old DX7 synthesizer.