An album that lingers long after it ends.
Austra, the project led by Toronto musician Katie Stelmanis, began with her classical training and early involvement in the city’s experimental music scene, which shaped the operatic and electronic blend she is known for today. Her new album leans into brighter synths and more playful rhythms, while still keeping the moody, otherworldly vibe that defines her sound. Stelmanis sounds more open and energised here, balancing emotional honesty with moments that feel unexpectedly light and adventurous. The music shifts between introspective lyrics and uplifting electronic textures, creating something that feels both personal and inviting. All of this comes together beautifully in her latest release, Chin Up Buttercup.
Austra’s latest release, Chin Up Buttercup, feels like a bright, glimmering step forward in her sound, blending crisp electronic production with the emotional depth she always brings. The sonics are warm and layered, mixing airy synths with pulsing beats that give the album an uplifting but still slightly haunting vibe. There’s a sense of resilience running through the music, as if each track is gently nudging you toward hope without ignoring complexity or struggle. The production is clean and intentional, letting Katie Stelmanis’ vocals float above the mix while still grounding everything in a rich, textured atmosphere. Overall, it is a release that feels comforting, vibrant and thoughtfully crafted.
The album opens with “Amnesia,” a track that initially plunges you into a dark, heavy atmosphere before gradually unfolding into a surprisingly danceable groove. The production shifts in a way that feels both dramatic and seamless, creating space for Austra’s signature operatic and emotionally charged vocals to rise to the forefront. The contrast sets the tone for the record, showing how she can move between intensity and movement without losing her unmistakable presence.
In the title track, it becomes clear why the album has been described as a “grief album you can dance to” (via Bandcamp). Even though it runs just over a minute, the song packed in a surprising amount of emotional and sonic detail, unfolding in a way that feels both cathartic and energising. It offers a quick but powerful glimpse into the blend of sorrow, movement and release that shapes the entire project.
In “The Hopefulness of Dawn,” Austra feels at her most unpredictable. The track starts with a somber, introspective tone before suddenly bursting into full techno intensity, creating a jolt that mirrors the volatility of real emotion. The shift suggests that feelings are rarely straightforward, reminding us that they can move rapidly between heaviness and release without ever following a single, linear path.
Overall, Chin Up Buttercup captures Austra at a moment of bold transformation, balancing vulnerability with kinetic energy in a way that feels both refreshing and deeply human. The album moves through grief, hope and joy with a fluidity that mirrors the emotional complexities it explores, never settling into a single mood for too long. Through inventive production and her unmistakable vocal presence, Austra creates a world that invites listeners to process, dance and feel at their own pace. It is a project that lingers long after it ends, offering comfort, release and a renewed sense of possibility.
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