A session by Oklou for a Friday night – recorded at the Open Stage in Paris on January 28, 2021 by Radio France FIP.
Marylou Vanina Mayniel (born 23 April 1993), better known by her stage name Oklou (pronounced “Okay Lou”), is from Poitiers, France. Her debut mixtape Galore was released in 2020, which was followed up by her debut album Choke Enough in 2025.
Mayniel began recording and uploading music online in 2013. She self-released her debut EP, Avril, in June 2014, under the moniker Loumar.
She moved to Paris in 2015, and self-released her first Oklou EP, First Tape, alongside a limited run of cassettes. 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. The group gained a notable following in its formative years, appearing in many online publication features. TGAF disbanded in July 2018. She attended a Red Bull Music Academy residency in Montreal in 2016, where she met Canadian musician and close collaborator Casey Manierka-Quaile.
Oklou acted in the short film After School Knife Fight in 2017. The film received a festival release from 2017 to 2018. In December 2017, Oklou released her collaborative EP with Casey MQ, titled For the Beasts. In early 2018, she 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. Fact described the EP as “a deeply personal exploration of identity, intimacy and faith” set against “lush, experimental electronic production.” It featured collaborations with Sega Bodega, Rodaidh McDonald, Krampf and Bok Bok. Later that year, Oklou 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. Oklou also produced a soundtrack for the game, which she later released on a limited cassette. Oklou also appeared on the late American rapper Chynna’s October 2018 single “Xternal Locus”.
Throughout 2019, Oklou played at various festivals, such as Loom Festival and Pitchfork’s Paris Music Festival. She also released a single, titled “Forever”, via TaP Records in October. It was co-produced with Sega Bodega.
In May 2025, she was announced as a supporting act on Lorde‘s upcoming Ultrasound World Tour.
In July 2025, Oklou released remixes of select tracks from the album, featuring remixes by Jamesjamesjames, Malibu, Nick Léon Broward, and Aaron Hibell.
In October 2025, she released a song “Viscus” with British avant-pop musician FKA twigs. This was followed by an announcement of a deluxe edition of Choke Enough, titled Choke Enough: Expansion Pack. This version, released on October 30, 2025, featured four new songs, including “Viscus”. In October 2025, it was also announced via X that Oklou is featured on the remix of British pop singer-songwriter PinkPantheress‘s “Girl Like Me”, appearing on the remix album Fancy Some More.
Doin’ a lot in a short space of time – and more to come. In the meantime – press Play and chill.