Yes are set to release their 24th studio album, “Aurora”, on June 12 through InsideOut Music in partnership with Sony Music.
The current lineup of Yes includes guitarist Steve Howe, who first joined the band in 1970, alongside keyboardist Geoff Downes, part of the 1980 “Drama” era. Jon Davison has served as lead vocalist since 2012, while bassist Billy Sherwood—personally chosen by original bassist Chris Squire—has been associated with the band since the 1990s. Drummer Jay Schellen, who previously worked closely with Alan White, rounds out the lineup.
When Yes first started shaping ideas for what would become “Aurora”, the approach was open-ended and exploratory. There was no clear concept in place—just a series of musical fragments that slowly began to connect and evolve. One of those early pieces was titled “Aurora” and it soon became obvious that the name held a certain weight. It evoked light, emergence, and a sense of vastness—qualities that strongly resonated with the band. Jon Davison remembers how “the title immediately resonated with Steve Howe and sparked visual inspiration for artist Roger Dean, setting a conceptual tone that would guide the project”.
Work on “Aurora” began almost immediately after Yes wrapped up their “Classic Tales Of Yes” tour in 2024. The idea for a new album emerged quickly, and with support from the label, the band had the freedom to let the material evolve naturally. Instead of spending months together in a single studio, they adopted a more modern approach—developing ideas in their home studios, refining them individually, and then bringing everything together through ongoing collaboration. Geoff Downes and Steve Howe often formed the core creative partnership, with Howe, also acting as producer, ultimately shaping and guiding the final direction of the material.
Across “Aurora”, each track has its own distinct identity. Some lean into the classic Yes sound, while others venture into new territory, yet all come together as a cohesive whole that respects the band’s legacy while moving forward. With their 24th studio release, YES prove not only their longevity, but also their ongoing curiosity—the drive to keep exploring, evolving, and pushing their creative limits.
Howe comments: “Making this record was joyful, a chance to play, explore and give everything to the music. It’s always been about collaboration, somebody can write a song, but until everybody puts their contribution in it isn’t really a YES song. We’re not trying to echo the past; we’re carrying the spirit of YES forward and turning it into something new”.
YES has launched the first single from the album, and you can watch the beautiful animated video for the title track, created by Matt Hutchings (Greg Lake, OASIS, IRON MAIDEN), below.
“Aurora” will be released in several formats, including a limited deluxe 180g light green 2LP+2CD+Blu-ray artbook with poster, as well as a limited deluxe 2CD+Blu-ray artbook edition. Both versions feature striking artwork by Roger Dean and Freya Dean, along with a bonus disc of instrumental tracks and a Blu-ray containing Dolby Atmos, 5.1 surround sound, and 24-bit stereo mixes by Curtis Schwartz.
The album will also be available as a gatefold 180g 2LP with LP booklet, a special edition CD digipak, and in digital format.
Tracklisting
01. Aurora (07:27)
02. Turnaround Situation (05:50)
03. Love Lies Dreaming (06:24)
04. Countermovement (13:48)
05. Ariadne (06:18)
06. All Hands On Deck (03:04)
07. Outside The Box (04:20)
08. Emotional Intelligence (03:30)
09. Jambustin’ (bonus track) (04:24)
10. Watching The River Roll (bonus track) (04:42)
