Austra (band)
Canadian electronic music project founded by Katie Stelmanis.
Austra is a Canadian electronic music project from Toronto, started in 2009 by Katie Stelmanis, who handles composition, vocals, and production. Stelmanis is the project's sole constant member; her live lineup has shifted over time, including musicians such as Maya Postepski, Dorian Wolf, and Ryan Wonsiak. The group has put out four studio albums.
Stelmanis and Postepski first played together in a band called Galaxy in 2004. Around the same time, Stelmanis began making electronic music at home and writing industrial-style soundtracks for performance artist Zeesy Powers, who encouraged her to perform live. In 2008, Stelmanis released her debut album, *Join Us*, under her own name through Blocks Recording Club, and toured Europe with Postepski. In 2009, she changed the project's name from her own to give her bandmates more visibility and to avoid being mistaken for an acoustic-folk act. The following year, she added Dorian Wolf and Carmen Elle to the live band. After playing South by Southwest as Private Life, an A&R from Domino Records signed her. When she learned the name Private Life was already taken, she adopted her middle name, Austra—also the name of a Latvian goddess of light.
Austra's first album, *Feel It Break*, came out in May 2011 on Domino Records (and Paper Bag Records in Canada). It was shortlisted for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize and landed on several year-end best-of lists, with both the *Toronto Star* and *New York* naming it the top album of 2011. Stereogum named Austra a Band to Watch in March 2011. Stelmanis wrote and produced all tracks; Postepski contributed additional production on four songs. The album was mixed by Damian Taylor.
The second album, *Olympia*, was released in June 2013, preceded by the single "Home." It was described as a personal cycle of songs about loss and gender dynamics. The third album, *Future Politics*, arrived in January 2017. For it, Stelmanis spent time in Mexico and was influenced by electro cumbia, house, dance, and techno. Lyrically, she drew from the book *Inventing the Future* and *The Accelerationist Manifesto*, though she noted the material was written before the political events of late 2016.
In 2020, Austra released *Hirudin*, which Pitchfork called the band's most dynamic album. It was produced by Rodaidh McDonald and featured contributions from Cecile Believe and Joseph Shabason. After a five-
- formed
- 2009
- origin
- Toronto, Canada
- field
- Electronic music
- nationality
- Canadian
- known_for
- Electronic music with rotating live band; albums Feel It Break, Olympia, Future Politics, Hirudin
Lore & Background
Katie Stelmanis began making electronic music at home in 2004 while also writing industrial-inspired soundtracks for performance artist Zeesy Powers. Powers convinced her to perform live, and in 2008 Stelmanis released her debut album Join Us under her own name. In 2009, she changed the project's name to Austra to increase bandmates' visibility and avoid being mistaken for an acoustic-folk act. The name comes from her middle name and the Latvian goddess of light.
In 2010, Stelmanis recruited Dorian Wolf and Carmen Elle as live members. The band played South by Southwest under the name Private Life, leading to a record deal with Domino Records. After learning Private Life was taken, Stelmanis adopted Austra. Their debut album Feel It Break (2011) was shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize and named best album of 2011 by the Toronto Star and New York. Subsequent albums include Olympia (2013), Future Politics (2017), Hirudin (2020), and Chin Up Buttercup (2025).
Reader's Guide
Austra's significance lies in its evolution from a solo project into a collaborative electronic music entity, with Stelmanis as the constant creative force. The band's debut Feel It Break garnered critical acclaim and Polaris Prize recognition, establishing Austra as a notable act in Canadian electronic music. Later albums explored themes of loss, gender dynamics, and postcapitalist politics, with Future Politics drawing inspiration from accelerationist theory. Hirudin was noted by Pitchfork as the most dynamic of Austra's albums. The band's rotating live lineup and Stelmanis's consistent production and songwriting have allowed Austra to maintain a distinct identity while adapting over more than a decade. Their discography reflects a shift from early electronic pop to more politically engaged and sonically varied work.
Did You Know?
- The band name Austra comes from Stelmanis's middle name and the Latvian goddess of light.
- Feel It Break was shortlisted for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize.
- Future Politics was lyrically inspired by the book Inventing the Future: Postcapitalism and a World Without Work.
- Hirudin was produced by Rodaidh McDonald and features contributions from Cecile Believe and Joseph Shabason.
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