Austra: An Overview

It's a marvellous feeling to stumble across an artist that you fall instantly in love with. It's exactly what happened to me this morning, when the wonderful music cataloguer Last.fm, provided me with my daily dose of artist recommendations of potential musical companionships. Thank you, Last.fm, for enlightening me with Austra.

For the avid listeners who enjoy expanding their musical horizons, this band deserves the opportunity to fill ear cavities with a taste of new wave electronica that feels heavy and light at the same time. The sound of Toronto-formed Austra, bears positive familiarity with artists such as Zola Jesus, Esben and the Witch, and The Knife through a contrast of intense melodies against powerful female vocals that although delicate, hold underlying energies that persistently threaten to break through. While this association may sound generalizing; the reality of this is that Austra sets itself apart from neighbouring artists with a uniquely tailored tone, as lead-vocalist Katie Stelmanis' classically-trained voice feels beautifully strained beneath the pressure of emotional retention.

Austra's Katie Stelmanis

So far, Austra have released three singles as well as an eleven-track album Feel It Break, that came out in May earlier this year. Feel It Break has an all-round atmosphere that feels dark and intense while also manages to provoke thoughts of warmth and sunshine all at the same time. The industrial twist that this album possesses works superbly alongside chanting voices (particularly in their single, Beat and the Pulse), while the rich textures of electronic sounds and rhythms give Austra's tunes dancing potential, allowing for a diverse range of ways for their tracks to be fully appreciated.

Particular songs off Feel It Break that have really stolen my heart are actually the first two tracks Darken Her Horse and Lose It (making well for a first impression), providing a brilliant start to an absolutely awesome album that I can only hope recieves the acclaim and recognition that it truly deserves.

Austra Official Page