"In music it's just 'easier' if you can also have, like, a modelling contract on the side — and that's the same with many other industries. Often, there's such a risk in investing in somebody that [labels] just need to check boxes... in order for [an artist] to be worthy of investment. I think if those ideas were [less narrow] then what people chose to invest in would be more interesting." — Katie Stelmanis, Austra

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This episode has been sitting on ice for months. Katie Stelmanis, aka Austra, is one of my favourite musicians. Shortlisted for the Polaris Prize in 2011 for the band's debut album, Feel It Break, Austra has since released two more records — with a fourth on the way, May 1. It's called HiRUDiN, after the peptide secreted by leeches that helps blood to coagulate, and delves into the real shit: the way we are in relationships. Katie says that she wanted to make a more insular record after her last album cycle, which found her being asked to comment on U.S. politics, but also because she saw flaws in her own approach. Queen of revision. This one is technically also a solo project, created in collaboration with a bunch of new and exciting collaborators. We also talk about the bloodsucking all musicians must submit to in order to gain access to the powers that be and how to get through a fallow period (with the help of food).

Austra: austra.fyi

First track: "Risk It" c/o Austra

Theme song: "Dark Beings" by LAL

Original music provided by Jahmal Padmore

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