Canadian band Austra highlight the madness of touring

KATIE Stelmanis can’t wait for the madness to resume. “Touring is a heavy experience. Personally I love it,” says Austra’s lead singer.

“There are moments you go a bit crazy. You have to take precautions to safeguard your sanity. If you can find a way to do that, it’s wonderful. I am definitely addicted to life on the road.”

She acknowledges a downside. Since Austra, an electro outfit from Canada, broke big in 2009, Stelmanis has lived out of a suitcase. This has taken a toll on her personal life. Romantic relationships have been jeopardised; she almost lost contact with loved ones. She articulates the excitement and the confusion on Austra’s second album, Olympia. It is a concept record about what happens when your world is thrown into sudden turmoil and you don’t want it to end.