Austra: Commanding Darkness

The Toronto band Austra merges classical and electronic sounds beautifully, as evidenced by this riveting session in the KEXP studios. Here, vocalist and keyboardist Katy Stelmanis, drummer Maya Postepski and bassist Dorian Wolf perform a pulsating, synth-driven set with a dark, danceable electronic vibe.

Stelmanis' gorgeous and commanding vocals weave and float through these propulsively catchy songs; it was no surprise to learn that she studied opera and sang in choirs from a young age. With her huge voice complemented beautifully by the spooky backing vocals of twin sisters Sari and Romy Lightman, Austra's powerful and cinematic set stayed with me long after the band finished.

Setlist

• "Spellwork"
• "Lose It"
• "Darken Her Horse"
• "Beat And The Pulse"

Credits

Engineered by Kevin Sugg; camerawork by Shelly Corbett, Scott Holpainen and Justin Wilmore; editing by Scott Holpainen.