Joji stated in an interview with Triple J how he wanted to take a more pop-oriented approach to his style on the album, which began with the single ' Yeah Right'.
The focus of the project is ballads, according to Joji and in an interview with Annie Mac said that he was trying to make the project full of ballads that are different in their 'own special way', set a new direction but keep 'Joji roots' he established on In Tongues. The project is introspective, writing about the 'reality of love, life and everything in between.' The project ranges from songs that are 'heart-wretching' and sometimes more cheerful to capture the feeling that 'no one's sad all the time'.
Ballads 1 is primarily produced by Joji himself and features only one vocal feature, with Trippie Redd appearing on ' R.I.P.' though features production features from names such as Clams Casino, D33J and Shlohmo.
