Katie Stelmanis
| Katie Stelmanis | |
|---|---|
 Stelmanis performing in 2009 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Toronto, Ontario |
| Genres | Indie rock, new wave |
| Instruments | Vocals, Piano |
| Labels |
Blocks Recording Club Paper Bag Records |
| Associated acts | Owen Pallett, Austra, Galaxy, Bruce Peninsula |
Katie Austra Stelmanis (born 1985) is a Toronto-based Latvian-Canadian[1] musician,[2] who has performed and recorded both as a solo artist and with the band Austra.[3]
Stelmanis identifies herself as queer.[4][5]
Solo career
She is classically trained and began performing in the Canadian Children’s Opera Chorus at age 10.[2] 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,[7] a Toronto-based artistic collective that has supported numerous artists through the years including Owen Pallett, Fucked Up and Bob Wiseman. 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.[2] 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 "Your Loft My Acid" and "Witchdance" from the album Trans-Love Energies.[8]
Influences
Katie Stelmanis told the Interview magazine that she "was obsessed with classical music" while growing up. She cites artists such as Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, and Claude Debussy as influences. Additionally, she takes inspiration from Opera, Chicago house, and Detroit techno.[9]
References
- ↑ Žilde, John (2011-02-08). "TVNET :: Jaunumi - Latviešu izcelsmes mūziķe pievienojas "Latvian-born musician joins "Domino rec"". TVNet (in Latvian). Retrieved 2013-07-18.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Macfarlane, David. "Katie Stelmanis: "My parents were like 'You play too much!'"". Dummy Magazine. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
- ↑ "Katie Stelmanis's Austra Explore the "Sleazier Side of New Wave" on Debut Album". Exclaim!, February 8, 2011.
- ↑ Purvis, Lara (2010-07-01). "Katie Stelmanis, Pride Toronto & the politics of outsidership". Xtra!. Retrieved 2013-07-18.
- ↑ Waechter, Patrick (2011-06-15). "Austra (interview)". 'Sup Magazine. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
- ↑ "Rockers in a straight man's world". Canadian Dimension, September 7, 2006.
- ↑ Hodgson, Jaimie (2009-05-29). "Katie Stelmanis - Fucked Up Geek - Free MP3". NME.
- ↑ http://www.deathinvegasmusic.com/about/
- ↑ "Austra Mounts Olympia - Page - Interview Magazine". Interview magazine. Retrieved July 1, 2013.