![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kjhk.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/ex-re-album-cover_opt.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1\")
Elena Tonra has always had a dark talent for writing lyrics: unflinching verses that evoke, emotionally, the sensation that one is being slowly eviscerated. Though best known as the lead singer in the indie folk band Daughter, Tonra has decided to branch out on a solo project. Ex:Re (pronounced like \u201cx-ray\u201d) released the surprise single \u201cRomance\u201d on November 26th, and an eponymous album followed only four days later.<\/p>\n
Ex:Re<\/em> is a breakup record, but not in a traditional sense. In an interview with The Line of Best Fit, Tonra examined the meditative period she has spent alone since Daughter decided to take a brief hiatus. She described this project as a story in which she is the only defined character; rather than focusing explicitly on her ex-relationship, Tonra evaluates her emotions regarding both the break up and the feelings of watching everyone around her move on with their lives.<\/p>\n Sonically, Ex:Re\u2019s songs undeniably carry a sound similar to that which Tonra has lent to Daughter in the past. However, this is clearly her<\/em> project. The vocals are more developed and focal; the instrumentals more experimental, often more present as background complements; and the overall record rawer, barer. Most importantly, Tonra diverges from the comfortable rock niche that Daughter has settled into to experiment with piano ballads, stripped-down folk guitar, heavier electro-pop, and even a bit of post-rock.<\/p>\n As always, Tonra\u2019s words are poetic in their simplicity. In \u201cToo Sad,\u201d the lyrics \u201cI can’t readjust into the life before I met you \/ I can’t readjust, I just want to forget you,\u201d are wailed softly over an electrifying buildup of guitar and bass. Standout track \u201cCrushing,\u201d repeats chorus lines \u201cI guess attention spans are lessening \/ It’s a lesson in humans using machines \/ To show their feelings,\u201d adding a sense of urgency and desperation to an otherwise ironically upbeat-sounding song.<\/p>\n Overall, Ex:Re<\/em> is a beautifully crafted, emotionally rich debut. With or without the backing of Daughter, we must hope that Tonra will continue to bless the alternative music scene with her work. Daughter’s Elena Tonra surprises fans with a new side project, a break up album about love, anger, guilt, and all the emotions in between.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20842,"featured_media":69733,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[181],"tags":[2010,8264,8263,7712,3367],"class_list":["post-69732","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rock-rotation","tag-daughter","tag-elena-tonra","tag-exre","tag-jaya-chakka","tag-rock-rotation"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/kjhk.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/ex-re-album-cover_opt.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kjhk.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69732","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kjhk.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kjhk.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kjhk.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20842"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kjhk.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69732"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kjhk.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69732\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kjhk.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69733"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kjhk.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69732"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kjhk.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69732"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kjhk.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69732"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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\nRecommended If You Like: Daughter, Keaton Henson, Wilsen
\nRecommended Tracks: 2 (Crushing), 3 (New York), 4 (Romance), 5 (The Dazzler), 7 (Liar), 9 (5AM), 10 (My Heart)
\nDo Not Play: 6 (Too Sad)
\nWritten by Jaya Chakka on 12\/01\/2018 <\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"