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Oklou

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Oklou
Birth nameMarylou Vanina Mayniel
Also known as
  • Avril Alvarez
  • avril23
  • Lou du Lagon
  • Loumar
  • Soirée Pyj
Born (1993-04-23) 23 April 1993 (age 31)
Poitiers, France
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer
  • music producer
  • DJ
  • composer
  • actress
Years active2014–present
Labels
Websiteoklou.com

Marylou Mayniel (born 23 April 1993), better known by her stage name Oklou (pronounced "Okay Lou"; ˈəʊˈkeɪ luː),[1] is a French musician, singer, music producer, DJ, composer, and actress.

Early life

[edit]

Marylou Maniel was born on 23 April 1993, in Poitiers, France.[2] Mayniel grew up in the countryside of western France with her two parents and an older brother.[citation needed]

She was classically trained in piano and cello and sang in choirs as a child.[3]

Career

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2014–2019: Early beginnings

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Mayniel self-released her debut EP, Avril, in June 2014, under the moniker Loumar.[4]

She moved to Paris in 2015,[2] and self-released her first Oklou EP, First Tape, alongside a limited run of cassettes.[5] After meeting in late 2015, Mayniel co-founded the female DJ collective TGAF (These Girls Are on Fiyah), alongside DJ Ouai, Miley Serious, and Carin Kelly. They would play weekly radio shows on French station PIIAF and live shows around Paris.[6] The group gained a notable following in its formative years, appearing in many online publication features.[7][8][9][10] TGAF disbanded in July 2018.[11]

Mayniel acted in the short film After School Knife Fight in 2017. The film received a festival release from 2017 to 2018.[12] In December 2017, Mayniel released her collaborative EP with Canadian musician and close collaborator Casey MQ, titled For the Beasts. This marked their first collaboration. The EP was released via the Permalnk label.[13] In early 2018, Mayniel became associated with record label and collective, NUXXE, and its co-founders, Irish-Chilean music producer Sega Bodega, British rapper Shygirl and French producer and performer Coucou Chloe. She released her third EP, The Rite of May, via the label in March of that year.[14] It featured collaborations with Sega Bodega, Rodaidh McDonald, Krampf and Bok Bok. Later that year, Mayniel and Krampf co-created the video game, Zone W/O People. It was made as a part of Red Bull Music Academy France's 2018 Diggin’ in the Carts event.[15] Mayniel also produced a soundtrack for the game, which she later released on a limited cassette.[16] Mayniel also appeared on the late American rapper Chynna’s October 2018 single "Xternal Locus".[17]

Throughout 2019, Mayniel played at various festivals, such as Loom Festival[18] and Pitchfork's Paris Music Festival.[19] She also released a single, titled "Forever", via TaP Records in October. It was co-produced with Sega Bodega.[20]

2020–2023: Galore and collaborations

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In January 2020, Mayniel released a collaborative single with French experimentalist Flavien Berger, titled "Toyota", via Because Music.[21] This was followed by another single in February, titled "entertnmnt", which was co-produced with British producer Mura Masa,[22] and another single in April, titled "SGSY" (standing for She's Gonna Slaughter You).[23] The singles were released via TaP Records and True Panther Sounds.[citation needed]

Mayniel announced her debut mixtape Galore in July 2020, sharing three tracks, one of which ("unearth me") was accompanied with a music video.[24] Another three tracks from the mixtape were released in August 2020, alongside a music video for the "god’s chariots" track.[25] The full mixtape was released 24 September 2020, via Because Music, TaP Records and True Panther Sounds.[26] The tape was made primarily in collaboration with Casey MQ, but also featured collaborations with Sega Bodega, Shygirl, PC Music’s A. G. Cook and EASYFUN, and GRADES. It also appeared on Gorilla vs. Bear, Rough Trade, and Dummy Mag’s 2020 year-end lists.[27][28][29] Additionally in 2020, Mayniel released remixes of Caroline Polachek’s "Door",[30] and Dua Lipa’s "Fever".[31]

Mayniel produced a remix of French singer Pomme’s "les cours d’eau" track in January 2021, followed by a remix of Swedish rapper Bladee and producer Mechatok's "Rainbow" track in March 2021.[32] Mayniel appeared on A. G. Cook's Apple vs. 7G remix album in May 2020, covering "Being Harsh" from Cook's 2020 7G album. She also released remixes of her tracks "fall" and "galore", by Cook. Mayniel toured across the US supporting Caroline Polachek from November through to December 2021.[33] A remix EP celebrating Galore's anniversary was released on 13 October, featuring an extended mix of "asturias", and two remixes from Casey MQ, and Pomme & Danny L Harle.[citation needed]

She appeared on Flume's Palaces album in May 2022, on the song "Highest Building". She supported him on the album's tour through the United States.[34]

2024–present: Choke Enough

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In 2024, Oklou began talking about a potential new project, before finally dropping a first single "Family and Friends" produced by Casey MQ in September 2024, accompanied by a music video directed by Gil Gharbi.[35] This track also included additional vocals from Cecile Believe and Zsela.[36] Only a month later, in October 2024, a double single containing the tracks "Obvious" and "Harvest Sky" was released, the latter of which featured Underscores, an American hyperpop artist.[37] This was followed only a month later with a fourth promotional track titled "Choke Enough", accompanied by an announcement for an album of the same name, set to release on February 7, 2025, on the French label Because Music.[38]

Discography

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Albums

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Title Details
Choke Enough

Mixtapes

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Title Details
Galore

EPs

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Title Details
Avril
(as Loumar)
  • Released: 17 June 2014
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
First Tape
  • Released: 23 November 2015
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download, cassette
For the Beasts
(with Casey MQ)
  • Released: 6 December 2017
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
The Rite of May
  • Released: 16 March 2018
  • Label: NUXXE
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
galore anniversary
  • Released: 13 October 2021
  • Label: Because Music, TaP Records
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles

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Title Album Label Year
"Chrysalis" Avril Self-released 2014
"Friendless" The Rite of May NUXXE 2018
"They Can't Hear Me"
"Friendless"
(Sega Bodega Piano Version) 		Non-album single
"Forever" Because Music,

TaP Records

2019
"Toyota" 2020
"Entertnmnt"
"SGSY"
"Unearth Me" Galore
"God's Chariots"
"Galore (French Version)"
(with Pomme & Danny L Harle) 		Galore Anniversary 2021
"Family and Friends" Choke Enough 2024
"Harvest Sky" / "Obvious"
"Choke Enough"

Remixes

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Title Artist(s) Year
"Door" Caroline Polachek 2020
"Fever" Dua Lipa featuring Angèle
"les cours d'eau" Pomme 2021
"Rainbow" Bladee & Mechatok

Guest appearances

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Title Year Artist(s) Album
"Bloom Doom" 2016 John Vitesse Club Hexagon, Vol. 1
"Haku" — Boss Rush
"Météo" 2018 Myth Syzer Bisous
"Xternal Locus" Chynna Non-album single
"Baby Gurl" Zuukou Mayzie J.M.U.A.Z
"Raising Hell" 2020 Sega Bodega Salvador
"Komodo" Reestablishing Connection
"Babygirl" Casey MQ Babycasey
"Empty Lightning" 2021 Woesum Blue Summer
"Being Harsh (Oklou Cover)" A. G. Cook Apple vs. 7G
"Bunny" MISOGI Non-album single
"What About Us (oklou's cover)" Casey MQ Babycasey: Ultra
"☆" Namasenda Unlimited Ammo
"Highest Building" 2022 Flume Palaces
"Le Tombeau des lucioles" Zuukou Mayzie Le film: le commencement
"The Make Believe" 2024 Casey MQ Later that day, the day before, or the day before that

References

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  1. ^ "Bordeaux : la playlist de novembre du DJ Cristof Salzac". SudOuest.fr (in French). 5 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Oklou, la nouvelle vague". Le7.info (in French). Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  3. ^ Dazed (2 February 2018). "Meet the French producer turning childhood memories into future-facing pop". Dazed. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  4. ^ "We Love Loumar". Happy Mag. 3 July 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  5. ^ "oklou first tape - splash tape limited edition release, by Oklou". Oklou. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Rencontre : These Girls Are On Fiyah (TGAF), et nous aussi". BEYEAH (in French). 17 May 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  7. ^ "A Tour of Paris' Next-Generation Club Scene, Where Inclusivity Reigns Supreme". www.vice.com. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  8. ^ "9 All-Female DJ Collectives You Need To Know Right Now". The FADER. 7 February 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Internet Wave : nouveau genre, nouvelle scène". Trax Magazine (in French). 29 March 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  10. ^ Morin, Marie-Lou. "Internet Wave, airs numériques". Libération (in French). Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  11. ^ TGAF on Facebook Watch, retrieved 12 March 2021[self-published]
  12. ^ "After school knife fight - ecce films". eccefilms.fr. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  13. ^ "FOR THE BEASTS, by Oklou & Casey MQ". PERMALNK. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  14. ^ Dazed (24 May 2018). "Club collective Nuxxe is bringing new sound to dance floors". Dazed. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  15. ^ "Red Bull Music Festival Paris: Diggin' in the Carts at Gaite Lyrique, La, Paris (2018) ⟋ RA". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  16. ^ "Zone W/O People OST, by Oklou". Oklou. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  17. ^ Listen to "Xternal Locus" by Chynna / Oklou, retrieved 12 March 2021
  18. ^ "Loom Festival 2019 at Utopia 126, Barcelona (2019) ⟋ RA". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  19. ^ Pitchfork (4 September 2019). "Pitchfork Music Festival Paris 2019 Reveals Full Lineup". Pitchfork. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  20. ^ "Hear Oklou's radiant new single "Forever"". The FADER. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  21. ^ "France Rocks | New single: OKLOU x FLAVIEN BERGER 'TOYOTA'". Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  22. ^ "Oklou Links With mura masa On Hypnotic Single 'entertnmnt'". Clash Magazine. 19 February 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  23. ^ Torres, Matt (24 April 2020). "Oklou Shares New Single, "SGSY" – Stream". Soundazed. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  24. ^ "Rising French producer Oklou announces debut mixtape Galore, shares three new songs: Stream". Consequence of Sound. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  25. ^ "French electro-pop mastermind Oklou unveils her mesmerising new single "god's chariots"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  26. ^ "Oklou unveils new debut mixtape Galore: Stream". Consequence of Sound. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  27. ^ Chris (1 December 2020). "gorilla vs. bear's albums of 2020". gorillavsbear.net. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  28. ^ "Albums of the Year 2020". Rough Trade Blog. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  29. ^ Dummy. "The 25 Best Albums of 2020". DummyMag. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  30. ^ "Caroline Polachek unveils four Pang track remixes by Toro Y Moi, Oklou and more". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  31. ^ Dummy. "Oklou delivers an entrancing remix of Dua Lipa's and Angèle's 'Fever'". DummyMag. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  32. ^ "Hear Oklou's shimmering remix of Bladee and Mechatok's "Rainbow"". The FADER. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  33. ^ "Caroline Polachek Adds 2021 Tour Dates, Shares New "Bunny Is a Rider" Video". Pitchfork. 26 July 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  34. ^ Yopko, Nick (9 February 2022). "Flume Announces 2022 Tour Dates Ahead of New Album". EDM.com - The Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  35. ^ ""Family and Friends", le retour lumineux d'Oklou | Les Inrocks". www.lesinrocks.com/ (in French). Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  36. ^ "OKLOU". Trianon (in French). Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  37. ^ Interviews, Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews &; Murray, Robin (16 October 2024). "Oklou Shares Two New Singles: 'harvest sky', 'obvious' | News". Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews. Retrieved 2 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  38. ^ "Oklou partage "Choke enough" et nous rapproche un peu plus de la sortie de son nouvel album | Les Inrocks". www.lesinrocks.com/ (in French). Retrieved 2 December 2024.
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