It’s once again time for Five Questions and a Song, the weekly column where we track down new musical talent and ask them to share one of their tracks for your listening pleasure.
Today we’re talking to Katie Stelmanis from Austra, an experimental Toronto project with an electronic edge, dedicated to bend genre conventions. Inspired by “Portishead, lots of early house music, and Cat Power”, the new dance album Olympia is as bold as it is infectious. Prepare for their upcoming shows at Latitude Festival (on Sunday) or at KOKO (in November) by tuning into the powerful single ‘Home’ below.
Photo: Norman Wong
Tell us about your band.
We are Katie, Maya and Dorian. Ryan plays keys live. Sometimes you will see the Tasseomancy twins on stage with us too.
What has been your greatest musical achievement?
Almost winning Polaris, but not, and almost winning a June, but not.
What’s your musical guilty pleasure?
I don't have any guilty pleasures! I only like music that I think is great and if it’s great, I don't need to feel guilty.
What’s your favourite breakup album? [asked by previous interviewees The Epstein]
Perfume Genius! His last one. Put Your Back N 2 It.
What can you tell us about this song?
It’s about waiting for your companion to come home while they’re flirting with (drowning in?) mood-altering substances. "Why would you choose the bottle over me?" is the question.
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