Magic Bag Presents: Austra with Dominant Hand

The vibrant soundscape of Austra emerges from the inventive mind of producer, songwriter, and recording engineer Katie Stelmanis, whose most potent tool is her own voicea instrument that effortlessly conjures scenes of personal turmoil and universal sorrow. In live performances enhanced by a rotating ensemble of musicians, Austras recorded works function as meditations on texture, atmosphere, and feeling, increasingly probing the modern experience of being unsettled by what lies ahead. On Amnesia, the cinematic opening track from Chin Up Buttercupthe fifth album under her alter ego AustraStelmanis sings with raw intensity: Im so chaotic in love. Her voice is unmistakably hers: singular, operatic, unafraid, and deeply sophisticateda presence youd dare not approach in a dimly lit bar. As the beats swell toward the hypnotic chorus of my life is not the same without you in my arms, her tone reveals a vulnerability that distinguishes this album from her earlier work. This is an album about grief, yet it compels movement. Stelmanis and co-producer Kieran Adams shared a mutual devotion to pop divas, Eurodance, and obscure techno tracks. Madonnas 1998 release Ray of Light, produced by William Orbit, proved crucial in the final stages: that record was crafted almost entirely on a Juno-106 and a Korg MS-20the same gear wed been usingso our sonic reference point aligned perfectly. The result is a blend of trance-inducing dance-floor anthems and graceful melodies designed to heal your fractured heart.