Daughter

Daughter formed in London with Elena Tonra on vocals and guitar, Igor Haefeli on bass, and Remi Aguilella on drums. Their first album, If You Leave, came out in 2013 and introduced Tonra's quiet, direct singing over atmospheric guitar and drums. Songs like Youth and Medicine from that record caught attention for how plainly they handled heavy feelings without getting sentimental.

In 2016 they released Not to Disappear, which kept the same spare, echoing sound but felt a little more inward. A year later they put out an EP of instrumental music for a video game called Life Is Strange: Before the Storm. Tonra also made a solo record under the name Ex:Re in 2019, which was quieter and more stripped back than the band's usual work.

Their music doesn't really change shape from album to album, it's built on Tonra's low, steady voice and lyrics that talk about loss and doubt in simple terms. Tracks like Smother and Landfill sit in that same gray, patient space. They've had some recognition, like a Mercury Prize nomination, but mostly they've stayed a three-piece making slow, serious indie songs that don't try to lift you up.