French singer, producer, and DJ Oklou writes dreamy, futuristic pop songs equally influenced by experimental ambient music, trance, and left-field R&B. Releases such as her 2020 mixtape Galore are both soul-searching and escapist, reflecting her emotions and self-discovery journey through mysterious, longing tracks filled with atmospheric synths, electronically altered vocals, and field recordings. Following collaborations or remixes with artists such as A.G. Cook, Bladee, and Dua Lipa, Oklou released her debut album, choke enough, in 2025. Marylou Mayniel was raised in the countryside of western France, and was classically trained in piano and cello as a youth. Inspired by producers and songwriters like Arca, Palmistry, and James Blake, she began making abstract electronic pop, releasing her debut EP, Avril, under the name Loumar in 2014, before going by the stage name Oklou. After moving to Paris, she formed an all-female DJ and radio crew called TGAF (These Girls Are on Fiyah). The brief First Tape appeared in 2015, and she collaborated with Casey MQ for the 2017 EP For the Beasts. She relocated to London and joined the experimental club label/collective NUXXE (Coucou Chloé, Shygirl), and her 2018 EP The Rite of May included production from Sega Bodega, Bok Bok, and Krampf. Oklou and Krampf additionally created a video game called Zone W/O People and co-wrote its score together. Oklou continued releasing singles, including 2020's "Toyota" (with Flavien Berger) and 2020's two-song A Colors Show, before her debut mixtape, Galore, appeared through True Panther Sounds. She additionally issued official remixes of Caroline Polachek's "Door" and Dua Lipa's "Fever." In 2021, Oklou remixed Bladee and Mechatok's song "Rainbow," and covered A.G. Cook's "Being Harsh." Cook then remixed two of Oklou's songs, and galore anniversary, an EP of additional remixes, was released. Oklou appeared on Flume's song "Highest Building," and supported the producer on his U.S. tour. "Family and Friends," the first single from Oklou's debut studio album, arrived in 2024. Other advance singles featured Bladee and underscores. Co-produced with Casey MQ and featuring additional production by Cook and Danny L. Harle, choke enough was released by Because Music in 2025. ~ Paul Simpson, Rovi

Pitchfork Paris 2019

Oklou

Going to Pitchfork Paris 2019?