Night Things reveal moody, mesmerizing debut ‘Cost of Summer’

by: Alexandra Blair Apr 11, 2017

A number of years after the quiet success of his one off project with Ryan Gosling, Zach Shields is back with another quality project. Together with Maize LaRue, Shields’ latest effort Night Things is dreamy, celestial synthpop that has been more than 6 years in the making. The longtime collaborators have forged a truly unique project lead by their first proper single “Cost of Summer.” The intense track begins with a Dead Man’s Bones-esque interlude, in which Shields relives an encounter between two young lovers. From there, listeners are plunged into a gut wrenching spiral that smacks like like Jackson Browne and Peter Murphy arm wrestling over a Wavestation.

The mesmerizing visuals are as moody and nocturnal as the track itself with the duo playing a pair of ill fated lovers who can’t seem to find peace or unity. For the video Shields reportedly took multiple dance classes each day for nearly 6 months to keep up with legendary contemporary choreographer Ryan Heffington (of Sia and FKA Twigs fame) and LaRue–a life long dancer. The unsettling result seems to be just one part of a vast creative vision that will unfold across a multitude of mediums as the duo have already established a “dream collection” hotline and a mysteriously curated social media presence. Whatever Night Things are up to, those keen on the darker sides of synthpop are sure to follow.