In 2017, Beach House released B-Sides and Rarities, a compilation that acted as a symbolic "cleaning out the closet" to make space for a fresh creative direction. Unlike their previous albums, the band took a more relaxed approach to recording 7. Instead of working through a single long studio session, they recorded in batches, letting inspiration guide them. This led to five mini-sessions spread over eleven months throughout 2017. The bulk of the album was recorded at the duo's home studio in Baltimore, Apple Orchard Studios, with finishing touches at Carriage House in Stamford, CT. Additionally, "Lose Your Smile" and "Woo" were tracked at Palmetto Studio in Los Angeles.