One to watch: Oklou
You may think that club beats and baroque arrangements wouldn't mix well, but Oklou is proving otherwise. Marylou Mayniel, 31, is a producer, vocalist and composer from a village in rural west France. As a child she played classical piano and sang in school choirs before moving to Paris in 2015 and London two years later. After being introduced to the city's underground clubbing scene, she swiftly found support from American avant-pop star Caroline Polachek and British super-producer AG Cook, with whom she collaborated on her 2020 mixtape Galore.
While Oklou's catalogue stretches back to 2014, she's only now capturing wider attention for her debut full-length record, Choke Enough, released last month. The album (produced by Oklou, with Casey MQ, Cook and Danny L Harle), received critical praise for its vivid portrayal of party-going through heavy basslines and whimsical arpeggios – think PC Music (Cook's label) meets Enya. Standout moments include the twinkling trumpets of Ict, rapper Bladee's soft vocals on hyperpop tune Take Me By the Hand, and the club-ready climax of Harvest Sky. Inspired by French summer bonfire celebrations, this last track balances thumping trance with shimmering vocals and the image of watching a party from a distance ('In the night, slow dance for a harvest sky/ But I won't, no way, afar, I stay, and watch'). It's a perfect summation of Oklou's production style: tentative yet seeking thrills – a country girl making it in the big city.
Choke Enough is out now via True Panther/Because. Oklou tours the UK and Ireland at the end of the year
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