News
3 November 2026 – Dead Man's Bones Return After Seventeen Years With Lost in the Night and Revive Their Strange Indie-Rock Partnership
By Editorial Team - November 3, 2026
Summary
Dead Man's Bones, the indie project of Ryan Gosling and Zach Shields, return after seventeen years with Lost in the Night via ANTI- Records.
Key Facts
- Dead Man's Bones (Ryan Gosling and Zach Shields) release new single 'Lost in the Night' via ANTI- Records, their first music in 17 years.
- The track pivots from the gothic-folk theatricality of their 2009 debut toward electronic pop and new wave textures.
- Recorded on a farm outside Los Angeles using a minimalist setup of two guitars, two drum machines, and two synths.
- Entities: Dead Man's Bones, Ryan Gosling, Zach Shields, Lost in the Night, ANTI- Records, Los Angeles
- Tags: dead-mans-bones, ryan-gosling, zach-shields, lost-in-the-night, anti-records, indie-rock, gothic-folk, electronic-pop
Dead Man's Bones have returned with "Lost in the Night", their first new recording in approximately seventeen years. The project brings together actor and musician Ryan Gosling and songwriter Zach Shields, whose self-titled 2009 album developed a dedicated following through its unusual combination of gothic folk, atmospheric rock and theatrical arrangements. The new single arrives through ANTI- Records and introduces a different musical direction from the duo's earlier recordings.
Rather than concentrating exclusively on the haunted-house atmosphere associated with their debut, "Lost in the Night" incorporates elements of new wave and electronic pop. The musicians reportedly experimented with several Los Angeles recording studios before relocating to a farm outside the city, where they worked with a deliberately limited collection of instruments. Two guitars, two drum machines and two synthesizers provided the foundation for the recording. That approach suggests an interest in spontaneity and musical simplicity rather than elaborate studio construction.
Dead Man's Bones originally attracted attention through their unconventional creative partnership and performances that incorporated theatrical elements, including children's choir arrangements. Their long absence subsequently transformed the project into something of a cult curiosity among independent-music listeners. "Lost in the Night" therefore represents a significant return, although a complete new album has not been officially confirmed.
The single demonstrates that creative partnerships can remain relevant even after extended periods of inactivity. Seventeen years is a remarkably long time between recordings, particularly in an industry where musicians are frequently encouraged to release new material every few weeks. Apparently Dead Man's Bones have decided that artistic patience is considerably more fashionable than anybody realised. Explore dark atmospheric arrangements in our folk section and keep up with unexpected returns in our music news archive.