Katie Stelmanis

Katie Stelmanis
Katie Stelmanis performing in 2009
Stelmanis performing in 2009
Background information
Birth name Kaitlin Austra Stelmanis
Born (1985-05-30) May 30, 1985
Origin Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres Indie rock
new wave
Instruments Vocals, piano
Years active 2004-present
Labels Blocks Recording Club
Paper Bag Records
Associated acts Owen Pallett
Austra
Galaxy
Bruce Peninsula
Allie X
Website AustraMusic.com

Kaitlin Austra Stelmanis (Latvian: Keitija Stelmane[1], born 1985)[2] is a Toronto-based Canadian musician of Latvian descent, who has performed and recorded both as a solo artist and with the bands Galaxy and Austra.[3][4][5] Stelmanis identifies herself as queer.[6][7]

Career

Solo career

She is classically trained and began performing in the Canadian Children’s Opera Chorus at age 10.[4] She was subsequently a member of the band Galaxy, along with Maya Postepski and Emma McKenna.[8]

Her debut album, Join Us, was released by Blocks Recording Club, a Toronto-based artistic collective that has supported numerous artists through the years including Owen Pallett, Fucked Up and Bob Wiseman.[9] Her debut single as a solo artist, "Believe Me", was released by Loog Records and Vice Records on 22 June 2009.

In 2008, Stelmanis appeared on Fucked Up's album The Chemistry of Common Life.[4] She also contributed tracks to the compilation albums Friends in Bellwoods and Friends in Bellwoods II.

In 2011, she co-wrote and sang on the Death in Vegas songs "Come Ride With Me", "Your Loft My Acid" and "Witchdance" from the album Trans-Love Energies.[10]

In 2016 Stelmanis delved deeper into writing lyrics and wrote her band Austra's album Future Politics primarily alone.[7]

Influences

Katie Stelmanis told Interview Magazine that she "was obsessed with classical music" while growing up. She cites artists such as Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, and Claude Debussy, and Massive Attack as influences.[7][11] Additionally, she takes inspiration from opera, Chicago house, and Detroit techno.[12]

Discography

Galaxy
  • 2006: I Want You to Notice (Self Released)
Katie Stelmanis
7 inch
  • 2008: Fucked Up / Katie Stelmanis - Royal Swan Matador Records
  • 2009: Believe Me (Loog, Vice Records)
Compilations

References

  1. "Jauna zvaigzne, vārdā Austra". www.laiks.us. Retrieved 2018-06-05.
  2. "Writer: Stelmanis Kaitlin Austra, Performers: Austra". ACE Repertory, American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).
  3. Žildei, Jānis (8 February 2011). "Latviešu izcelsmes mūziķe pievienojas "Domino rec"=Latvian-born musician joins "Domino Records"". TVNet (in Latvian).
  4. 1 2 3 Jones, Charlie (26 June 2009). "Katie Stelmanis: "My parents were like 'You play too much!'"". Dummy.
  5. Hudson, Alex (8 February 2011). "Katie Stelmanis's Austra Explore the 'Sleazier Side of New Wave' on Debut Album". Exclaim!.
  6. Byrneson, Lindsey (7 March 2011). "An interview with Katie Stelmanis of Austra". AfterEllen.
  7. 1 2 3 Potts, Danica (9 January 2017). "Music Monday: Katie Stelmanis of Austra: On building a better tomorrow and avoiding the apocalypse — plus! The premiere of "Utopia (Jana Hunter Remix)"". Lenny Letter.
  8. Millar, Erin (7 September 2006). "Rockers in a Straight Man's World – Canadian Dimension". Canadian Dimension.
  9. Hodgson, Jaimie (29 May 2009). "Katie Stelmanis - Fucked Up Geek - Free MP3". NME.
  10. "Death in Vegas: About". Death in Vegas Music.
  11. Lau, Melody (18 January 2017). "Austra's Katie Stelmanis: 5 songs that changed my life". CBC Music.
  12. Reese, Nathan (17 June 2013). "Austra Mounts Olympia". Interview Magazine.
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