How AURORA & Bear McCreary Crafted a ‘Hauntingly Ethereal’ Love Song for Galadriel in ‘The Rings of Power’ Season 3
Billboard ·
Watch an exclusive preview of "Morning Shall Come" from The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
Unless we’re talking about scalding pits of lava, things aren’t looking so hot in Middle Earth for season 3 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which premieres next Wednesday (Nov. 11). Jumping forward a few years from the events of season 2, the war between Sauron and the Elves is raging, with the forces of evil vastly outnumbering the defenders of good as the Dark Lord works to finish the One Ring.
But it’s not all Mount Doom and gloom. “In this season we’re telling a love story about Galadriel and Celeborn,” composer Bear McCreary — who has been crafting delicate, dark and dynamic themes for The Rings of Power since its first season — explains in a preview clip premiering exclusively below.
To help tell their love story, McCreary turned to singer-songwriter AURORA , one of Norway’s most fascinating musical exports. “I couldn’t imagine a better vocal match for Tolkien’s narrative world than AURORA. From her hauntingly ethereal tones to her projecting chest voice powerful enough to echo off distant mountains, I knew she would bring something special to The Rings of Power, ” McCreary says. “I was thrilled to collaborate with her to write and perform ‘Morning Shall Come,’ a heartbreaking tribute to the love story between Galadriel and Celeborn depicted in the series’ epic third season.”
“Bear and I hatched a plan to create something that showed the duality that lives inside of all of us. Dark and light. Soft and tough. Being able to work alongside so many beautiful instruments and play from Bear’s vision was truly an honor and a joy,” AURORA shares. “I hope people can hear themselves in it, both the part that wants to break and the part that refuses to.”
“It’s been really fun to keep parts of her secret until season 3,” says Morfydd Clark of playing Galadriel. “It feels like a nice payoff that we’re seeing a different side of her that just couldn’t exist before. And it’s been wonderful to play opposite Jamie,” she adds of Jamie Campbell Bower, who joins the show’s cast this season as Celeborn.
“Bear has shaped the sound of The Rings of Power from the very beginning, and bringing AURORA into that world for ‘Morning Shall Come’ gave this story a voice no one else could. It’s been a privilege to support their collaboration, and we can’t wait for fans to hear what they’ve created together,” says Bob Bowen, Amazon MGM Studios’ worldwide head of music.
Ahead of the season 3 premiere on Nov. 11, viewers can catch the official “Morning Shall Come” music video premiere this Friday (Nov. 6) on Amazon Music.