Author | Michelle King
Canadian goth pop group Austra brought up a very good question in an interview with After Ellen: does being gay in a band with other gay people make you a gay band?
Though Austra could fit the bill, front woman Katie Stelmanis says that although she has always wanted to be in a “gay band” they have yet to fall into that classification, particularly due to the stereotypes surrounding what a gay band or a lesbian-identified band should sound like. True – Austra sounds nothing like Sleater-Kinney, Tegan and Sara, or JD Samson and Men, but their unique brand of dark, electronic pop could(read: should) prove to expand the realm of what popular culture has come to think of as “lesbian music,” or even better, abolish the stereotype altogether.
Their first record, Feel it Break, gave Arcade Fire a run for their money for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize, and they went on to sign with indie powerhouse Domino Records to release their 2013 sophomore effort Olympia and 12” single “Habitat” earlier this year. The songs range from eerie downtempo to danceable electropop, but Stelmanis’ enchanting, operatic voice and undeniable romanticism remain at the forefront. Stream a few selections below, including their cover of Duran Duran’s “American Science,” and check out the video for “Painful Like,” a personal favorite of mine.
We recommend that you follow Austra on Twitter, like them on Facebook, and pick up Olympia at iTunes or stream it on Spotify. You can also catch them in Austin this fall, playing Stargayzer Fest alongside the aforementioned JD Samson, Xiu Xiu, and Big Freedia, amongst a slew of other queer musicians, DJs, and comedians. Stelmanis occasionally DJs under the name Ketsup, and she’s got a gig in Brooklyn on August 15. The Facebook invite for that can be found HERE.
Michelle King is a music fiend currently residing in Athens, GA. While her business card will tell you she is executive manager and director of publicity at Noisy Ghost PR, you can also find her blogging at She Turns the Tables, racing for Reality Bikes, and going on adventures with her awesome dog.
Follow Michelle on Spotify for up to the minute musical suggestions!
