Their debut album, "Feel It Break" (May 2011, Domino), came after a long sequence of bands for Stelmanis, representing a near ten year musical progression performing as an artist, then fleshed-out by a full band. The album made into several year-end critics' lists; notably, both the Toronto Star and New York named it the best album of 2011, with the former calling it "an outright stunner". Stereogum named Austra a Band to Watch on March 14, 2011.
Their sophomore album "Olympia" was released on June 18, 2013, from which the first single Home was released on March 7, 2013.
In 2014, the band released their first EP, "Habitat EP".
More settled and dominant than ever, the band's sound represents Stelmanis' influences tightened into a shiny metal ball — pianos give way to keyboards as songs build and pull, their urgent, dark melodies arpeggiating through multiple synthesizers, wrapping themselves around Stelmanis' voice.
Sites: Official Site
Painful Like
Austra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can come here anytime
Ride past their prying eyes
You can come here anytime
In the light I'm falling
Held in the eye of night
Malice keeps calling
You are carried
You are carried
It was in the morning light
Bruised skin on top of mine
Give me the creeps of painful like
I held you in my underwear
Give me the creeps of painful like
Someone might see, but I don't care
We don't have to marry
In the light I bet it all
'Cause in this town we'll bury
All the minds that clench too tight
You are carried
You are carried
Ooh, we don't have to marry
In the light I bet it all
And in this town we'll bury
All the minds that clench too tight
You are carried
You are carried
You are carried
You are carried
You are carried
You are carried
You are carried
You are carried
The lyrics to Austra's song Painful Like seem to be about finding solace in someone's company and escaping the judgement and scrutiny of others. The opening lines, "Hiding in the morning light / You can come here anytime / Ride past their prying eyes / You can come here anytime," suggest that the singer and their partner are seeking refuge from the outside world. They may be hiding a forbidden or frowned-upon relationship, but they don't care as long as they have each other.
As the song progresses, the imagery becomes more surreal and abstract. The line "Held in the eye of night" could be interpreted in different ways, but it seems to convey a sense of vulnerability or exposure. The singer feels exposed as they navigate the darkness, but their partner's touch is comforting and reassuring. The line "Malice keeps calling / Your palms keep on calming" implies that the outside world is still trying to disrupt their peace, but the partner's touch is able to soothe and calm them.
Later in the song, the singer reflects on the physical and emotional pain that their relationship may cause. "Bruised skin on top of mine / Give me the creeps of painful like" hints that their intimacy may be accompanied by some kind of hurt or trauma. However, the singer seems willing to endure this pain because of the emotional connection they share with their partner. The repeated refrain "You are carried" may suggest that the singer feels supported and protected by their partner.
Overall, Painful Like is a song about finding sanctuary in each other's company and defying social norms to be with the person you love. The lyrics are poetic and evoke a dreamlike atmosphere that matches the song's ethereal quality.
Line by Line Meaning
Hiding in the morning light
Finding solace in the early morning when everything is quiet and peaceful
You can come here anytime
This is a place free of judgment and filled with acceptance, always open and available for refuge
Ride past their prying eyes
Sneaking in secret past the watchful eyes of those who seek to judge and control
In the light I'm falling
With nothing to hide in the open daylight, feeling weak and exposed, searching for safety
Held in the eye of night
Surrounded by darkness, yet captivated and comforted by its stillness and tranquility
Malice keeps calling
Unforgiving negativity and hatred keep calling out, seeking to harm and damage
Your palms keep on calming
Stillness and calmness emanate from loving, supportive hands
You are carried
You are not alone or unsupported, carried by those who love and care for you
It was in the morning light
The pain and hurt was seen and felt in the early hours of the day
Bruised skin on top of mine
The physical result of abuse or trauma, a constant reminder of the pain inflicted
Give me the creeps of painful like
The thought of experiencing such pain again is unsettling and uncomfortable
I held you in my underwear
A tender, intimate moment, possibly with a lover, that brings a sense of comfort and protection
Someone might see, but I don't care
The fear of judgment and scrutiny from others is present, yet ignored for the comfort of the moment
We don't have to marry
We don't need societal expectations or labels to define our love and commitment
In the light I bet it all
With nothing left to hide, all is laid bare and vulnerable, trusting the love and support of others
'Cause in this town we'll bury
We will rid ourselves of the closed-mindedness and negativity of those around us
All the minds that clench too tight
Those who cannot accept and support what they do not understand or agree with, who rely on rigid, judgmental beliefs
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: Dorian Wolf Thornton, Kaitlin Austra Stelmanis, Maya Postepski, Ryan Wonsiak, Sarah Lightman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
CHILLEWYRUS
LYRICS:
Hiding in the morning light
You can come here anytime
Ride past their prying eyes
You can come here anytime
In the light I'm falling
Held in the eye of night
Malice keeps calling
Your palms keep on calming
You are carried
You are carried
It was in the morning light
Bruised skin on top of mine
Give me the creeps of painful like
I held you in my underwear
Give me the creeps of painful like
Someone might see, but I don't care
We don't have to marry
In the light I bet it all
Cause in this town we'll bury
All the minds that clench too tight
You are carried
You are carried
We don't have to marry
In the light I bet it all
Cause in this town we'll bury
All the minds that clench too tight
You are carried
You are carried
You are carried
You are carried
You are carried
You are carried
You are carried
You are carried
Daniel Wilkinson
words cant describe how much i love austra, the music is just incredible, mesmerizing and unbelievably catchy.
lacrim0sa
Waaa what a memories. I used to listen on repeat when I was 16,,,, now at 22 i finally found it again ♡♡♡
CHILLEWYRUS
LYRICS:
Hiding in the morning light
You can come here anytime
Ride past their prying eyes
You can come here anytime
In the light I'm falling
Held in the eye of night
Malice keeps calling
Your palms keep on calming
You are carried
You are carried
It was in the morning light
Bruised skin on top of mine
Give me the creeps of painful like
I held you in my underwear
Give me the creeps of painful like
Someone might see, but I don't care
We don't have to marry
In the light I bet it all
Cause in this town we'll bury
All the minds that clench too tight
You are carried
You are carried
We don't have to marry
In the light I bet it all
Cause in this town we'll bury
All the minds that clench too tight
You are carried
You are carried
You are carried
You are carried
You are carried
You are carried
You are carried
You are carried
Jan Hofer
A timeless masterpiece!
bratswood
Still my favourite Austra song.
Felipe Alves
Austra is surreal! Amazing voice!
dreamingNihilist ——
This band is so sadly under appreciated
Adam Wudarczyk
Love it. Fantastic vocal and music.
freddiealbrighton
I like the video - it's totally different to anything she's done before, and completely unexpected :') It's nice to see her smile <3
sal osorio
this album is quite amazing. def a lot dancier than the last one.