Band of the moment and on the rise are most certainly Toronto three piece Austra – pronounced “Owstra”. Comprised of vocalist Katie Stelmanis, drummer Maya Postepski and bassist Dorian Wolf, they have created a gothic-tinged and danceable sound or in Stelmanis’ own words “classical music with really fucked up, distorted crazy shit on there”.

Signed to Domino Records, their first release as a trio ‘Feel it Break’ offers glittering, synthy beats and layered vocals that neatly blurr the line between electronica and classical influences. Stelmanis originally trained as a classical musician, singing for the Canadian Opera Company as a youngster whilst also learning to play the viola and piano. But it was only after delving into the world of electronic composition via MIDIs whilst scoring orchestral compositions and soundtracks that she began to track her own career as a DIY musician and finally accepting the electronic creation of music as a form of composition it its own right. ‘It took me years to not think of MIDI as a substitute for real instruments’.

After opting out of further college education in favour of saving to go on her first tour -a task that was around five years in the creating- she appeared on Fucked Up’s The Chemistry of Common Life and supported Coco Rosie on a string of US shows, all of which culminated in the release of her debut album Join Us back in 2008. This self-composed and solo recorded effort was praised for its enchanting beauty and “Do-It-Yourself” attitude that brought her wider success, six tours and a showcase of her talents to many of the “more open” European audiences.

Now a three-piece, we can hear echoes of Kate Bush, Bat for Lashes as well as songs laden with imagery of the synthy ’80s new wave Brit scene. Getting away from comparisons to current ‘poster girl’ for the electro-gothic genre Zola Jesus could well be tricky, especially seeing as both frontwomen benefit from classical and operatic upbringings that have created for each a vocal sophistication. But for Stelmanis and Austra it is perhaps the subject matters where the widest departure is found in their music. Not one to shy away from her sexuality which in her own mind is synonymous with the music she makes, she has noted that ‘being gay is a huge part of who I am and definitely affects the music I make. I’d like to be recognised as someone who makes interesting, experimental music and also identifies as queer.’ With musical influences ranging from Bjork and PJ Harvey to The XX and Nine Inch Nails, Austra hope to strive for a music that ‘people [will] be able to dance and completely lose themselves in [in] a more physical way. If I can emotionally stimulate the mind and the body through music, I’ll feel like I’ve accomplished something significant.’

With a headline show at London’s Cargo in July followed by a Stateside tour in support of Cold Cave, Austra’s a voice not to be ignored and we’re adding our trumpet to the fanfare of praise for this talented trio.