Ryan Gosling and Zach Shields reunite for “Lost In The Night”, a self-recorded single that trades the duo’s gothic folk origins for electronic textures, post-punk guitars and nocturnal romance.
Dead Man’s Bones, the musical project of Ryan Gosling and Zach Shields, have released their first new music in 17 years with the single “Lost In The Night”. Released on 27 October 2026, the track reunites the duo with producer Tim Anderson and is accompanied by a black-and-white music video starring Noah Jupe and Rain Spencer.
The release marks the first new material from Dead Man’s Bones since their self-titled debut album appeared in 2009. That record established Gosling and Shields as an unconventional musical partnership, combining gothic folk, vintage rock and roll, doo-wop and theatrical storytelling with performances by the Silverlake Conservatory Children’s Choir.
“Lost In The Night” takes a different musical direction. The duo describe the track as drawing on the stark, drum-machine-driven approach of Suicide, the anthemic qualities associated with Bruce Springsteen, new wave synthesizers and post-punk guitars. The result moves away from the elaborate, haunted-house atmosphere of their debut towards a leaner electronic sound.
The recording process was equally stripped back. After experimenting in several Los Angeles studios, Gosling and Shields took two guitars, two drum machines and two synthesizers to a farm outside the city. They recorded the song in a single day, working with Anderson to capture a raw, immediate performance rather than pursuing a heavily polished studio production.
The accompanying video extends the song’s nocturnal atmosphere through a story of escape and romance. Jupe and Spencer leave a cemetery and move through lamplit city streets, shifting the setting from the world of the dead to the possibilities of the living. Its black-and-white cinematography complements the song’s combination of shadowy electronics and romantic optimism.
Dead Man’s Bones began taking shape after Gosling and Shields met in 2005. Their shared fascination with ghosts, supernatural stories and Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion ride became the foundation for a musical project built around love stories involving ghosts and monsters.
Both brought personal connections to the subject. Shields has spoken about his childhood preoccupation with ghosts, which led to him receiving therapy, while Gosling’s family had moved out of his childhood home because they believed it was haunted. Rather than treating the macabre as a novelty, the pair used those experiences as inspiration for songs that balanced the supernatural with human emotion.
Their approach to the debut album was deliberately restrictive. Gosling and Shields set out to play the instruments themselves, including instruments they had never previously mastered. They avoided click tracks and limited themselves to a maximum of three takes per song. The self-imposed rules helped preserve the rough edges and spontaneous character that became part of the album’s identity.
Released on 6 October 2009 through ANTI- Records, Dead Man’s Bones attracted critical attention for its unusual combination of musical styles and its use of the children’s choir. The album appeared in MOJO’s Top 50 Albums of 2009 at No. 43 and was included in AllMusic’s favourite rock albums of the year. Reviews from Pitchfork and The FADER also highlighted the distinctive character of the project.
The record subsequently developed a following beyond its original release, helped in part by the continued discovery of its songs through film and television. Tracks including “In The Room Where You Sleep” and “Lose Your Soul” have contributed to the album’s enduring association with supernatural and atmospheric storytelling.
The long gap between releases reflects the separate careers pursued by the two musicians. Gosling has continued to build his profile as an actor, while Shields has established a screenwriting and producing career that includes Krampus, Godzilla: King Of The Monsters and Godzilla Vs. Kong. His credits also include the upcoming Weapons prequel Gladys.
“Lost In The Night” brings their musical partnership back into focus without attempting to reproduce the sound of the 2009 album. The heavier reliance on drum machines, synthesizers and post-punk guitars suggests a project willing to move forward rather than simply revisit its cult reputation.
The single is available on streaming platforms, with a limited 12-inch vinyl release offered through the band’s official channels. An accompanying Instagram post indicated that more was coming, although no further release details have been confirmed.
There has been no announcement of a new album or tour. It remains unclear whether “Lost In The Night” will lead to a larger body of work or stand as a return single in its own right.
For a project originally built around experimentation, unusual recording rules and an affection for the strange, the decision to make its first new recording in 17 years in a single day on a farm is consistent with the spirit of its beginnings. “Lost In The Night” reconnects Gosling and Shields with the musical world they created in 2009 while establishing a different sound for their next chapter.
Dead Man’s Bones have returned. What comes next remains open, but “Lost In The Night” ends a 17-year recording silence.
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