Circles was specifically created as a companion piece to Swimming. Together, the two releases were designed to form a complete concept: Swimming in Circles. While Swimming focused on hip-hop structures and self-reflection, Circles pivoted almost entirely into a soft, introspective singer-songwriter/pop-soul style.

Famed composer and producer Jon Brion (who scored Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) spent months carefully finishing the album after Mac’s passing. To honor Mac’s vision, Brion preserved Mac's original vocal takes and instrument tracks, often spending days fine-tuning subtle details Mac had requested in earlier conversations. Here is a hearthbreaking interview where he speaks about it.

Circles debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 and moved 164,000 units in its first week—making it the highest first-week sales debut of Mac’s entire career. Something he predicted within his music.