Lost Leaders is the songwriting partnership of longtime friends Byron Isaacs (The Lumineers) and Peter Cole. The band began at Levon Helm’s barn in Woodstock, where they lived and recorded for several weeks while Isaacs was playing in Helm’s band. An invitation to perform at the Midnight Ramble became Lost Leaders’ first show.

Their debut album drew praise from Relix and No Depression, while “I’m Gonna Win” found its way onto AAA radio. For the follow-up, Promises Promises, they worked with producer David Baron. The Jealous Sun EP followed, with “Long Way Down” reaching the national Americana radio Top 100 in 2022. Their 2024 album, Hungry Ghosts, grew out of eight weeks of writing and recording together and explores desire, reckoning, and acceptance.

Their work has also moved into film. Cole appeared in Hannah Ha Ha, winner of the 2022 Slamdance Narrative Feature Grand Jury Prize, and was named in The New York Times’ review. Lost Leaders went on to compose the score for Run, produce its soundtrack, and perform as the band heard throughout the film. They also contributed the original song “Atalanta,” featuring Amy Helm.