Austra

About

The artist

Austra is the Toronto electronic project led by composer, singer, songwriter, and producer Katie Stelmanis. Classically trained in piano and voice, Stelmanis sang with the Canadian Children's Opera Chorus and played in the punk band Galaxy before releasing music under her own name. She formed Austra in 2009 with early collaborators including Maya Postepski and Dorian Wolf. The debut album Feel It Break arrived in 2011, placing Stelmanis's powerful voice inside cold synthesizer textures and propulsive electronic arrangements. It was shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize and established Austra internationally. Olympia followed in 2013, Future Politics in 2017, and the personal HiRUDiN in 2020. Stelmanis also composed the original score for Swan Song, released in 2023. Chin Up Buttercup opened a new phase in 2025 with songs that move between sleazy new wave, synth-pop melodrama, and club rhythm. Remixes of Math Equation and Fallen Cloud appeared in early 2026, followed by Siren Reprise in May. Austra remains rooted in Toronto while touring internationally, and the current live calendar includes Canadian and European dates.