EX:RE ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM
Photo: El Hardwick
Elena Tonra, well known as the frontwoman for the cherished London indie-folk outfit Daughter, has officially announced the long-awaited return of her revered solo project Ex:Re, marking the occasion with the reveal of a brand-new album entitled Save As, scheduled for arrival on 30 October. Accompanying this announcement, she has unveiled the project's lead single, ‘Radio Station’.
Serving as the opening track of the record, ‘Radio Station’ begins with stately strummed acoustic guitar before evolving into a trippy narrative centered around an endless California road trip. Its name functions as a direct metaphor for Tonra’s internal mental state. “The changing radio station is something I experience a lot – the push and pull of different feelings, and I end up getting stuck because I can’t make decisions,” she reveals. Texturally, the track is constructed from fragments of her own personal recollections interwoven with scattered lines of overheard dialogue. “I’ve ordered your coffee/Let’s fry all our money,” she sings against a dense wave of guitars, delicate flutterings of synthesizers, and Prynn’s steady, deliberate percussion.
A second Ex:Re release was not initially part of Tonra’s trajectory. Following her self-titled 2018 debut under the name, she viewed the solo venture as a singular project. However, during 2023, she brought several years' worth of rough song sketches into the studio to collaborate with Fabian Prynn, who had produced the original Ex:Re record. Their immediate creative synergy quickly reignited, resulting in the realization of Save As. The forthcoming album was produced by Prynn and incorporates musical contributions from cello player Josephine Stephenson, synthesizer player Hinako Omori, bassist Ben Reed, and electric guitarist Jethro Fox.
Rather than following a single dramatic arc, Save As stands as another finely crafted entry in Tonra’s body of work, meticulously examining the subtle complexities of human thought, persistent overthinking, and the internal or physical journeys undertaken to seek refuge. At its heart, the collection focuses on the nature of memory and retention. “My memory is not always very good,” Tonra acknowledges. Transmuting specific visions and moments into song provides her with a lasting archive, allowing her to feel as though performing or revisiting the material “is like travelling back in time”.
Save As reaches listeners on 30 October across digital formats, CD, Standard Black Vinyl, and Crystal Clear Vinyl. Pre-orders and additional album details are available HERE.
To celebrate the release, Ex:Re is set to embark on a series of live in-store performances during release week. The full schedule of dates, along with access to tickets and further event information, can be accessed HERE.
Photo: El Hardwick
Live In-Store Dates
30 October – LONDON, UK, Rough Trade East
31 October – BRIGHTON, UK, Resident
4 November – LEEDS, UK, Jumbo Records
5 November – LIVERPOOL, UK, Jacaranda Basement
6 November – OXFORD, UK, Truck Store
