Katie Stelmanis
Katie Stelmanis | |
|---|---|
 Stelmanis performing in 2009 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kaitlin Austra Stelmanis |
| Born | May 30, 1985 |
| Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | Indie rock new wave |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, piano |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels | Blocks Recording Club Paper Bag Records |
| Website | AustraMusic.com |
Kaitlin "Katie" Austra Stelmanis (Latvian: Keitlīna "Keitija" Austra Štēlmane,[1] born 1985)[2] is a 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]
Career
[edit]Solo career
[edit]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.[6]
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.[7] 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.[8]
In 2016 Stelmanis delved deeper into writing lyrics and wrote her band Austra's album Future Politics primarily alone.[9]
Influences
[edit]Katie Stelmanis told Interview Magazine that she "was obsessed with classical music" while growing up. She cites artists such as Kate Bush, Nine Inch Nails, and Massive Attack as influences.[9][10] Additionally, she takes inspiration from opera, Chicago house, and Detroit techno.[11]
Discography
[edit]- Galaxy
- 2006: I Want You to Notice (Self Released)
- Katie Stelmanis
- 2008: Join Us (Blocks Recording Club)
- 7-inch
- 2008: Fucked Up / Katie Stelmanis – Royal Swan Matador Records
- 2009: Believe Me (Loog, Vice Records)
- Compilations
- 2007: Friends in Bellwoods (You'll Fall)
- 2009: Friends in Bellwoods II (Believe Me)
Personal life
[edit]Stelmanis is of Italian, English and Latvian descent. Her father is Italian and her mother is half-Latvian and half-English.[12]
Stelmanis identifies herself as a lesbian.[13][9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Jauna zvaigzne, vārdā Austra". www.laiks.us. Retrieved 2018-06-05.
- ^ "Writer: Stelmanis Kaitlin Austra, Performers: Austra". ACE Repertory, American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). Archived from the original on 2017-01-06. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
- ^ Žildei, Jānis (8 February 2011). "Latviešu izcelsmes mūziķe pievienojas "Domino rec"=Latvian-born musician joins "Domino Records"". TVNet (in Latvian).
- ^ a b c Jones, Charlie (26 June 2009). "Katie Stelmanis: "My parents were like 'You play too much!'"". Dummy.
- ^ Hudson, Alex (8 February 2011). "Katie Stelmanis's Austra Explore the 'Sleazier Side of New Wave' on Debut Album". Exclaim!.
- ^ Millar, Erin (7 September 2006). "Rockers in a Straight Man's World – Canadian Dimension". Canadian Dimension.
- ^ Hodgson, Jaimie (29 May 2009). "Katie Stelmanis – Fucked Up Geek – Free MP3". NME.
- ^ "Death in Vegas: About". Death in Vegas Music. Archived from the original on 2012-07-24. Retrieved 2012-03-27.
- ^ a b c 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. Archived from the original on 29 January 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
- ^ Lau, Melody (18 January 2017). "Austra's Katie Stelmanis: 5 songs that changed my life". CBC Music.
- ^ Reese, Nathan (17 June 2013). "Austra Mounts Olympia". Interview Magazine.
- ^ "Austra : Habitat". Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ^ Byrneson, Lindsey (7 March 2011). "An interview with Katie Stelmanis of Austra". AfterEllen.
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
- 1985 births
- Canadian indie rock musicians
- Canadian people of Latvian descent
- Canadian people of Italian descent
- Canadian people of English descent
- Canadian women singer-songwriters
- Canadian feminist musicians
- Canadian lesbian musicians
- Canadian LGBTQ singers
- Canadian LGBTQ songwriters
- Living people
- Singers from Toronto
- Lesbian singers
- Lesbian songwriters
- Canadian women pop singers
- 21st-century Canadian women singers
- 20th-century Canadian LGBTQ people
- 21st-century Canadian LGBTQ people
- Canadian women in electronic music
- 21st-century Canadian singer-songwriters