Oklou (pronounced as 'Okay Lou'), the musical alter ego of French producer and singer Marylou Mayniel, weaves classical sensitivity and futuristic electronica into a unique soundscape. Following her acclaimed mixtape Galore, her debut album Choke Enough confirms her status as one of the most innovative voices in contemporary electronic pop.

In the album's opening song, she offers advice: "Far away is closer than it sounds", one of the remarkable poetic constructions that characterise her lyrics. She wonders: "Is the endless still unbound / Or am I just different now?" This touches on the core of the album: choices and possibilities, doors that can open, but also close. 

Oklou's sound is often described as 'digital' and 'ethereal', but that actually does her work a disservice. Her music moves between synths, subtle R&B influences and poetic introspection. Each song sounds like a dream slowly coming to life. Live, Oklou amplifies that experience with a visual aesthetic, making her performances feel like an immersion in a parallel universe.

© Willem Mevis