Auri – the side project from Nightwish mainman/keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen and his wife, popular Finnish singer Johanna Kurkela – have announced the release of their third studio album, III – Candles & Beginnings, on August 15, 2025.
As a first glimpse into Auri‘s evolving soundscape, the hauntingly beautiful lead single “Shieldmaiden” is available now, accompanied by a stunning cinematic video directed by longtime collaborator Ville Lipiäinen.
Donockley comments: “Our new album ‘Auri III’ is waiting to be released, and one of its songs, ‘Shieldmaiden‘, has already escaped. It’s a mysterious song, obscured by its own slow rising power. Auri thrives on mystery and ambiguity, so all is well…”
Propelled by the celestial voice of Kurkela, the lush sonic landscapes of Holopainen, and the boundless instrumental artistry of Troy Donockley, Auri once again invites listeners into a world that defies genre. Fusing elements of folk, progressive, and symphonic music with touches of world, pop, and avant-garde, III – Candles & Beginnings promises an immersive journey for the senses.
The creative process for this new chapter began in 2023, shortly after the completion of Nightwish‘s 2024 opus Yesterwynde. While Troy composed in the serene landscapes of Yorkshire, Tuomas and Johanna crafted melodies and lyrics from their home base in Kitee, Finland — bridging worlds both musically and geographically.
The drums for III – Candles & Beginnings were laid down in January at the Petrax facility in Hollola, Finland by Kai Hahto, best known as the drummer of Nightwish and Wintersun. Hahto will also tour with Auri when the band hits the road later this year.
Auri released its second album, II – Those We Don’t Speak Of, in September 2021 via Nuclear Blast. The effort was the follow-up to Auri‘s self-titled debut LP, which came out in March 2018 via Nuclear Blast.
Kurkela lent her unique voice, while Holopainen and English composer and multi-instrumentalist Troy Donockley (also of Nightwish) cast their spells with various other instruments. Now complemented by the dynamic percussive talents of Kai Hahto (Nightwish), the threesome carves fantastical worlds entirely their own.
