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
The Beast
Austra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was made into a beast
Am I free now, am I at peace?
Is that the ground below me, or your feet?
The morning I saw your face again
I was made into a beast
Am I free now, am I at peace?
Is that the ground below me, or your feet?
And I'll break my head over you
I swear (?)
These lyrics are an exploration of the idea of rebirth and transformation. In the opening lines, the singer describes a moment when they were "born again" and made "into a beast." This suggests that they underwent some sort of profound change, perhaps even a spiritual or emotional awakening, that transformed them into something wild and untamed. The question that follows - "Am I free now, am I at peace?" - speaks to the uncertainty and confusion that often accompany such transformative experiences. While the singer may feel liberated or empowered by their transformation, they are also grappling with questions about their identity and place in the world.
Later in the song, the singer references seeing someone's face again and being "made into a beast" once more. This could be interpreted as a romantic connection - perhaps the singer is describing the overwhelming passion or desire they feel for someone they've reunited with. The final lines, "And I'll break my head over you / I swear (?)," suggest that this connection is causing the singer a great deal of emotional turmoil. The phrase "break my head" can be interpreted as a metaphor for grappling with a difficult problem or puzzle, suggesting that the singer is struggling to come to terms with their intense feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
The morning that I was born again
The day I rediscovered myself
I was made into a beast
I transformed into an animalistic creature
Am I free now, am I at peace?
Do I feel liberated and content?
Is that the ground below me, or your feet?
Do I stand on my own or depend on your existence?
The morning I saw your face again
The day I reunited with you
And I'll break my head over you
I'll suffer from constantly thinking about you
Contributed by Sophia E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bambussbaumkeyboardsurfer2063
Iam over 30 and i have never had the need to listen to the songs of one band this often and for such a long time. The songs are one kind of expressions of an authenticity foreign to most people why this band will be a unpopular jewel for all time.
@totetate4803
How is this song so underrated? Honestly one of my all time favorite songs. Even my sister who dubs all my songs as weird likes this song.
@AlexanderHolik
Wow - blown away by this song.
@josephpreite
Austra is one of the most underrated artists of all time. If anyone reading this really enjoyed this song I HIGHLY recommend you check out the rest of the deluxe version of this album. If you think this song is a masterpiece, you’re in for a treat with the rest of the album
@BiguaBigcx
MASTERPIECE
@mhnoni
Came from Ringer :) what a great song...