Ryan Gosling's indie-rock project Dead Man's Bones is preparing to release new material, nearly two decades after its only album appeared. The release is scheduled for Tuesday, October 27, according to a video that Gosling's wife, actress Eva Mendes, shared on Instagram. The timing marks a rare return for a band that has largely existed as a footnote to its frontman's acting career.
A Long Gap Since the Debut
Dead Man's Bones, a duo made up of Gosling, 45, and musician Zach Shields, released its self-titled debut in 2009 on the Anti- Records label. The album drew attention for its eerie atmosphere and prominent use of a Los Angeles children's choir. According to the label, it was first conceived as the soundtrack to a stage production about a love story between a monster and a ghost. Pitchfork described the record as "spooky," a word that captures much of its unsettling, theatrical character.
Gosling's Music Beyond the Band
The new release fits a pattern of Gosling showing his musical side in other settings. He performed "I'm Just Ken" from the film Barbie at the 2024 Academy Awards, a performance widely noted at the time. Earlier, he sang "City of Stars" with Emma Stone in the 2016 musical La La Land, a song that won the Oscar for best original song in 2017.
What the Announcement Does and Does Not Reveal
The available reporting confirms the release date and the band's long hiatus, but it offers few details about the new music's sound, length or whether it will be accompanied by touring. Mendes's post, which describes Gosling as having kept a promise to her, is a personal remark rather than a statement from the band or its label. Until the music is available, the scope and direction of the project remain open questions.