Elena Tonra has a new record coming out, and it picks up where her last one left off. The singer, who spent a decade leading the London indie-rock trio Daughter, has been working on fragments of songs for a few years now. The result is Save As, the second album from her solo project Ex:Re, and it arrives next month through 4AD.
Tonra released her debut Ex:Re record, a self-titled album, back in 2018. She told us at the time that she had no plans for a follow-up. Now she does, and the title nods to a familiar menu command — the kind you reach for when you want to keep a file without losing the original.
Tonra’s Band For Save As
Tonra recorded Save As with her longtime Ex:Re producer Fabian Prynn. The band lineup includes Josephine Stephenson on cello, Hinako Omori on synth, Ben Reed on bass, and Jethro Fox on electric guitar. The opening track, “Radio Station,” sets the tone with a strummy, evocative sound about living in a state of flux.
The Title’s Meaning
The album’s title comes from a menu command. It is a simple idea: saving a file without erasing the old version. Tonra’s description of getting stuck because she cannot make decisions fits neatly into that frame. The title itself carries real weight for Tonra. A changing radio station represents indecision and drift. Saving a file as a new version without losing the old one suggests holding onto multiple versions of oneself at once.
“Radio Station” Video
Director Angela Ricciardi shot the “Radio Station” video in Paris. The clip adds visual weight to the song’s theme of indecision and flux.
Tracklist And Order
Save As runs nine tracks, and the sequence moves from opener “Radio Station” through “Sleep,” “Am I Even Real?,” “Two Chords,” “Save As,” “Frozen Aisle,” “Wasp,” “Language Of Love,” and closer “Healing Slow.”
Release Date And Tour
Save As is out 10/30 on 4AD. Tonra’s UK tour runs through early November, with stops in London, Brighton, Leeds, Liverpool and Oxford.
What The Album Is Doing
Save As follows a decade of work with Daughter. Tonra’s move to Ex:Re gave her a separate space to explore more personal, intimate territory. The title’s reference to a familiar menu command is a small joke, but it lands with weight. Tonra is not just saving a file — she is preserving a version of herself while letting the radio stations change around her.
The album arrives with a clear statement of intent. Tonra’s decision to return to Ex:Re after years of silence signals a willingness to revisit old ground while moving forward.
The Bottom Line
Save As is a deliberate record from an artist who knows exactly what she wants to say. The title’s reference to a familiar menu command is a small joke, but it lands with weight. Tonra is not just saving a file — she is preserving a version of herself while letting the radio stations change around her.
Save As is out 10/30 on 4AD. Pre-order it here.
KEY FACTS BOX
– Album: Save As
– Artist: Elena Tonra (Ex:Re)
– Release date: 10/30 on 4AD
– Tour dates: 10/30–11/06 across the UK
– Tracks: 9
TOUR DATES
1. 10/30 — London, UK @ Rough Trade East
2. 10/31 — Brighton, UK @ Resident
3. 11/04 — Leeds, UK @ Jumbo
4. 11/05 — Liverpool, UK @ Jacaranda Basement
5. 11/06 — Oxford, UK @ Truck
See the video the story is built around at Stereogum.
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