nina writes

Ex:Re (pronounced ex ray) is the solo side project of Elena Tonra, known for her incredible band Daughter. Her deeply personal self-titled album Ex:Re was released on February 1, 2019, but still stands the test of time. Its cathartic need to be created makes it an honest and raw album. This collection of beautifully melancholic songs were made to follow the end of a relationship. The designation of Ex:Re is meant to say “regarding ex” and x-ray, taking a deep look inside.

Tonra said in a statement:

“Although the record is written for someone, a lot of the time it’s about the space without that person in it. In every scenario, there’s either the person in memory or the noticeable absence of that person in the present moment. I suppose it is a break-up record, however I do not talk about the relationship at all, and he hardly features in the scenes. He is only felt as a ghostly presence.”

This mention of a ghostly presence really distinguishes the album and its songs within. Here, we’ll specifically discuss the song Romance. It follows Tonra on her trek through the dating world and her journey through a relationship she knows won’t last. This gut-wrenching record features mellow, laidback drums that act as the heartbeat of the song, punching through rhythmically. There’s a hum that resonates throughout, recalling a deeply personal feeling that you can’t quite pin down, you just feel. Her lyrics and vocals evoke heartbreak, similar to her Daughter records.

Tonra sings through the chorus:

Romance is dead and done / And it hits between the eyes on this side / The grass is dead and barren / And it hurts between my thighs on this side

She directly sings out that romance is no longer there for her, further showcasing heartbreak. The grass isn’t greener on the other side, contradicting the famous saying. It’s an agonizing sentiment, realizing that romance is dead.

One of my favorite lines from the song is:

I grew up too quick and still forgive too slow

Many can relate to the line, understanding that some of us do grow quickly from traumas. We forgive too slow when maybe we should quicken the process. However, it can still be difficult to do so. It’s a cathartic idea, to simply just forgive when it feels like we cannot.

Romance on its own is a heartrending tune that evokes so much raw emotion from the listener. The album as a whole creates the same feeling, and it lingers on after the album finishes.

Listen here: