The duo had expressed a desire to craft new material over recent years, though finding the right creative setting proved challenging. After experimenting across several recording studios in Los Angeles without achieving the desired sound, Gosling and Shields loaded a modest array of equipment into a vehicle—specifically two guitars, two drum machines, and two synthesisers—and drove to a farm on the outskirts of the city. There, away from conventional studio pressures, they recorded “Lost in the Night” in its entirety within a single day.

Dead Man’s Bones originally released their self-titled debut album in 2009, establishing a distinctive soundscape that blended indie rock, gothic folk, and 1950s doo-wop. For that initial project, they collaborated extensively with the Silverlake Conservatory Children’s Choir, a California-based music education organisation co-founded by Flea, the bassist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The youth choir provided haunting backing vocals that defined the album’s unique atmosphere.

Following promotional duties for their debut LP, Gosling’s Hollywood career intensified, and the duo stepped back from the musical spotlight. Despite their long hiatus, public interest in the project remained remarkably resilient over the subsequent decade and a half. Their work gained fresh traction through high-profile covers, notably singer-songwriter Cat Power’s rendition of “Pa Pa Power” on her 2022 album Covers. Additionally, recurring placements across film and television soundtracks, combined with an annual resurgence on social media platforms around Halloween, kept their catalogue in regular rotation, laying the groundwork for their unexpected return.