Austra (band)
Encyclopedia
Austra is a Canadian
New Wave
band, fronted by singer-songwriter Katie Stelmanis
.
The band, also featuring Stelmanis' former Galaxy bandmate Maya Postepski and former Spiral Beach
bassist Dorian Wolf, played a number of early shows under the name Private Life before learning that another band was already using the name; they subsequently chose Katie's middle name Austra
, from the goddess of light in Latvian mythology
. Austra's touring lineup includes twin back-up singers Sari and Romy Lightman of Tasseomancy and Ryan Wonsiak of Ze and the Boyfriends.
Austra's debut album Feel it Break was released May 13, 2011 on Domino Records (Ex Canada) / Paper Bag Records
. On June 16, 2011, Feel it Break was named as a longlisted nominee for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize
. The album was subsequently named to the Polaris Prize shortlist.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band, fronted by singer-songwriter Katie Stelmanis
Katie Stelmanis
Katie Stelmanis is a Toronto-based Latvian-Canadian musician, who has performed and recorded both as a solo artist and with the band Austra.Stelmanis identifies herself as queer.-Solo career:...
.
The band, also featuring Stelmanis' former Galaxy bandmate Maya Postepski and former Spiral Beach
Spiral Beach
Spiral Beach was a Canadian indie rock band, based in Toronto, Ontario, active from 2003 to 2009. The group consisted of vocalist and guitarist Airick Woodhead, vocalist and keyboardist Maddy Wilde, bassist Dorian Wolf and drummer Daniel Woodhead.-History:...
bassist Dorian Wolf, played a number of early shows under the name Private Life before learning that another band was already using the name; they subsequently chose Katie's middle name Austra
Austra
Austra is an island on the border between Nord-Trøndelag and Nordland counties in Norway. The island is shared between the municipalities of Bindal, Leka and Nærøy. The highest point is the tall Romsskåla....
, from the goddess of light in Latvian mythology
Latvian mythology
Latvian culture, along with Lithuanian, is among the oldest surviving Indo-European cultures. Much of its symbolism is ancient. Its seasons, festivals, and numerous deities reflect the essential agrarian nature of Latvian tribal life...
. Austra's touring lineup includes twin back-up singers Sari and Romy Lightman of Tasseomancy and Ryan Wonsiak of Ze and the Boyfriends.
Austra's debut album Feel it Break was released May 13, 2011 on Domino Records (Ex Canada) / Paper Bag Records
Paper Bag Records
Paper Bag Records is a Canadian independent record label and artist-management company, founded in 2002 and based in Toronto, Ontario.-History:...
. On June 16, 2011, Feel it Break was named as a longlisted nominee for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize
2011 Polaris Music Prize
The 2011 edition of the Canadian Polaris Music Prize was presented on September 19, 2011. The winner was Arcade Fire, for the album The Suburbs.For the 2011 award, the prize was increased to $30,000 for the winning musician.-Shortlist:...
. The album was subsequently named to the Polaris Prize shortlist.
Albums
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 2011 | Feel It Break
|
EPs
| Year | EP |
|---|---|
| 2011 | Sparkle
|
Singles
| Year | Single | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | The Beat And The Pulse
|
Feel It Break |
| Lose It
|
||
| Spellwork
|
External links
- Austra
- Austra Forum
- CanuckistanMusic review of Feel it Break