This Friday, June 12 sees the release of Aurora, the 24th studio album from progressive rock band, Yes. The line-up, as it has been since 2022’s The Quest, consists of Steve Howe (guitars), Geoff Downes (keyboards), Jon Davison (vocals), Billy Sherwood (bass), and Jay Schellen (drums) (drummer Alan White, who passed away in 2022, was also on The Quest).
Aurora comes three years after the band’s last album, Mirror to the Sky, and is part of what Jon Davison told me he regards as “very much part of a trifecta with the last two albums. There is a continuity from The Quest to Mirror to the Sky, then to Aurora. Just like we evolved from The Quest and did Mirror, we’ve gone another direction with Aurora. So there’ll be enough familiarity there.”
I had the chance to talk to bassist Billy Sherwood about the new album, on which he has multiple co-writes and a vocal showcase on the closing track, “Watching the River Roll.” In our conversation, I share my thoughts on Aurora with Billy, stating that I think this album is the most progressive of the band’s recent collections.
We also discuss how the band writes new music, Billy’s thoughts on harmony vocals, the enduring legacy of Chris Squire, and much more.
Thanks to Billy Sherwood for taking the time to talk to Biff Bam Pop!. You can order Aurora in various configurations directly from the band’s official website, Yesworld.