Led by Toronto-based vocalist and producer Katie Stelmanis, Austra has been making dark, danceable music for nearly a decade now. She’s been largely quiet since 2017’s excellent Future Politics, but today Stelmanis is back with her first new Austra song in years.

A jaunty synth melody kicks off “Risk It,” and the first vocals we hear are filtered and pitched quite high. As more playful, electrified percussion is added, the overall mood elicited from this song is completely changed.  Stelmanis’ glossier vocals create a contrast with the angular techno instrumental until a shimmery synth comes in towards the end of the track, snapping the song into focus.

The accompanying video, directed by Jasmin Mozzafari, takes the cinematic approach and features an angelically lit Stelmanis narrating the moments after a pretty brutal break-up. Watch the video for “Risk It” below, where you can also find a list of upcoming tour dates.

TOUR DATES:
05/05 – Toronto, CA @ Longboat Hall
05/07 – New York, NY @ The Sultan Room
05/12 – London, UK @  Hoxton Hall
05/13 – Paris, France @ Le Badaboum
05/14 – Barcelona, Spain @ Mil.Leni Festival
05/16 – Palma de Mallorca, Spain @ Mallorca Live Festival
05/18 – Berlin, Germany @ Theater Im Delphi
05/20 – Warsaw, Poland @ Niebo
05/21 – Vienna, Austria @ 21st – WUK
05/22 – Madrid, Spain @ Tomavistas Festival

“Risk It” is out now on Domino.

CREDIT: Virginie Khateeb