Looking back on the past year, Johanna Kurkela describes it as nothing short of momentous. After years of working mostly in home studios, she finally brought both Auri and Eye Of Melian to the stage. An experience that proved as humbling as it was empowering. The Helsinki show in particular stands out in her memory as something truly special. “That night was one of the best ones, I think, ever,” she recalls, describing an atmosphere charged with what she calls “otherworldly magic.” Even though the songs remain the same from night to night, the connection with the audience never is, and in Helsinki, that connection felt unusually potent.

That sense of shared energy became especially tangible toward the end of the show, when people stood up and began to dance, a moment Kurkela warmly embraces. While many of the venues on the tour were seated spaces, she welcomes that freedom of expression. “If you want to dance, then you should totally dance,” she says, seeing it as an extension of the music’s emotional openness rather than a disruption of it.

With Eye Of Melian, Kurkela feels she has found a home that differs subtly but significantly from her other projects. While Auri allows for a more eclectic and wide-ranging musical playground, Eye Of Melian is firmly rooted in fantasy, a realm she feels deeply connected to. “I’m just such a huge fantasy nerd,” she admits with a smile, noting that film scores have become her main source of listening inspiration. That cinematic sensibility runs through Eye Of Melian’s music, shaping both its sound and its atmosphere. “It ticks all my boxes,” she says simply.

Although Tolkien’s world remains an important influence, the new album broadens its scope beyond explicit references. Rather than being a conscious decision, this expansion happened naturally, allowing the music to explore a wider fantastical and mystical space. For Kurkela, fantasy is not about hiding from reality but enriching it. “Fantasy for me is something that uplifts my experience of reality,” she explains. It’s a way of finding meaning and small adventures in everyday life, an energy she hopes listeners can tap into through the music. “It’s not just something you can hide away in, but something you can feel empowered by.”

That philosophy is especially present in the album’s first single ‘Blackthorn Winter’, which Kurkela describes as deeply personal. Inspired by her relationship with winter in Finland, a season she loves, but one that often overstays its welcome, the song is meant to resonate collectively. “Hopefully this will be our collective power song to get us through winter,” she says, while still encouraging listeners to find beauty within it.

Eye Of Melian’s signing with Napalm Records might seem unexpected at first glance, but Kurkela embraces the contrast. The connection came through Martijn Westerholt, and rather than shying away from the label’s metal roots, the band chose to celebrate them by covering Bruce Dickinson‘s ‘Tears of the Dragon.’ “We thought it would be a fun idea to honor this wonderful deal,” she explains, framing the partnership as a meeting of worlds rather than a stylistic compromise.

Collaboration plays a central role in Eye Of Melian’s identity. Kurkela describes the process as organic, enriched by guest musicians such as Patti Gurdy and Troy Donockley, as well as her brother joining the live lineup. Inviting others into the project’s world feels natural, and she hopes that spirit continues to grow. Looking ahead, she envisions Eye Of Melian expanding into a broader fellowship, one that reaches far beyond Finland and brings together kindred spirits from across the world.

As the conversation winds down, Kurkela warmly invites listeners to step into the world Eye Of Melian is creating on record, and hopefully soon on stages across Europe and beyond. It’s an invitation not just to listen, but to belong.

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