Naohai crafts a wall of sound built on distortion, a deep sense of longing, and vocals that would rather provide mood than clear meaning. Formed by childhood friends Qi Jinlong, Chen Hao, and Zhao Shuang in Wuhan during the summer of 2010, the group quickly became enraptured with the sounds of western shoegaze. The band would draw from a number of influences before adding fellow schoolmate Qu Yichen to the ranks in 2015. The quartet gained notoriety in the Shanghai scene for their high-gain distortion and accidental math-rock tendencies, performing around the city for nearly five years. 

In 2020, the band dove headfirst into the studio to record their debut album The Crowd at RC Studio in Guangzhou. The band began exploring a more realized vision than on their previous work, tying together a weight of emotions for listeners to immerse themselves in, while also connecting on a more direct level. Produced by Mark Lee of Xinghai Conservatory of Music with mastering provided by Mark Lee and Andres Mayo.