Auri - III - Candles & Beginnings *Pre-Order

"Music can have a multitude of emotional impacts and can create inner worlds out of voices, sounds, and moods. If you
open heart and ear to the mesmerizing, hauntingly beautiful soundscapes of AURI, you might find a beacon of light inside
a sonic realm untouched by today’s often scary, grim realities; a dreamscape that can be profoundly uplifting. On their
third studio album, III - Candles & Beginnings' the stars have aligned yet again. Propelled by the unique and celestial
voice of Johanna Kurkela, the magical textures of Nightwish mastermind Tuomas Holopainen and the almost unlimited
musical palette of Nigtwish multi-instrumentalist Troy Donockley, Auri have presented a world to be unlocked with the
senses, blending folk, progressive and symphonic elements, world music, pop and avantgarde. Right after completing
Nightwish’s 2024 monument Yesterwynde, the songwriting for the third chapter in Auri’s musical adventures started in
2023, with Troy writing in Yorkshire and Tuomas and Johanna working their creative magic in Kitee, Finland. By Autumn
2024, a 10-song demo was complete, setting the stage for what would become another breathtaking Auri journey. The
band and their trusted engineer Tero ""Teecee"" Kinnunen took the mixing process to sunny Spain, letting the Andalucian
vibes infuse the music whereas in March 2025 mastering was wrapped up by Tim Oliver at the legendary Real World
Studios - a ground-breaking recording complex started by Peter Gabriel in 1989. The album is a tapestry of emotions -
each song a world of its own, touching on childhood memories, vivid life experiences, and even a nod to one of the
group’s most beloved places on Earth - The Lion Inn at Blakey Ridge, a historic spot nestled in the North York Moors and
one of the most remote pubs you will ever find. Visually, the cover artwork by Pete Voutilainen, layout and watercolors by
Mikko Pankasalo plus calligraphy by Johanna Kurkela provide wonderful illustrations perfectly capturing Auri’s unique
musical visions. With guest musicians like Frank Van Essen (strings), Jonas Pap (cello), Juho Kanervo (basses), and the
incredible drumming and percussion courtesy of Nightwish’s Kai Hahto, Auri III - Candles & Beginnings is as lush as it is
atmospheric and provides astonishing dynamics. Having been a studio endeavour in the past, Auri is finally going on tour
with their first-ever live European trek kicking off in August 2025, followed by summer festivals in 2026, allowing you to
hear, see and feel songs from their previous two albums, as well as brand new pieces from III - Candles & Beginnings
(such as the atmospheric new video's ‘Shieldmaiden’ and ‘Museum Of Childhood’).