Marylou Vanina Mayniel (born 23 April 1993), better known by her stage nameOklou (pronounced "Okay Lou"; ˈəʊˈkeɪ luː),^[1] is a French musician fromPoitiers. Her debut mixtapeGalore was released in 2020, which was followed up by her debut albumChoke Enough in 2025.

Marylou Mayniel 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.^[3]

She was classically trained in piano and cello and sang in choirs as a child.^[4] Her brother would bring home CDs from the local library, exposing her to artists such asDälek. The first album she bought was byGorillaz.^[3]

Mayniel self-released her debut EP,Avril, in June 2014, under themoniker Loumar.^[5]

She moved to Paris in 2015,^[2] and self-released her first Oklou EP,First Tape, alongside a limited run of cassettes.^[6] 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.^[7] The group gained a notable following in its formative years, appearing in many online publication features.^{[8][9][10][11]} TGAF disbanded in July 2018.^[12]

Mayniel acted in the short filmAfter School Knife Fight in 2017. The film received a festival release from 2017 to 2018.^[13] In December 2017, Mayniel released her collaborative EP with Canadian musician and close collaboratorCasey MQ, titledFor the Beasts. This marked their first collaboration. The EP was released via the Permalnk label.^[14] In early 2018, Mayniel became associated with record label and collective, NUXXE, and its co-founders, Irish-Chilean music producerSega Bodega, British rapperShygirl and French producer and performerCoucou Chloe. She released her third EP,The Rite of May, via the label in March of that year.^[15] It featured collaborations with Sega Bodega,Rodaidh McDonald, Krampf andBok Bok. Later that year, Mayniel and Krampf co-created the video game,Zone W/O People. It was made as a part ofRed Bull Music Academy France's 2018 Diggin’ in the Carts event.^[16] Mayniel also produced a soundtrack for the game, which she later released on a limited cassette.^[17] Mayniel also appeared on the late American rapperChynna’s October 2018 single "Xternal Locus".^[18]

Throughout 2019, Mayniel played at various festivals, such as Loom Festival^[19] andPitchfork's Paris Music Festival.^[20] She also released a single, titled "Forever", via TaP Records in October. It was co-produced with Sega Bodega.^[21]

In January 2020, Mayniel released a collaborative single with French experimentalist Flavien Berger, titled "Toyota", viaBecause Music.^[22] This was followed by another single in February, titled "entertnmnt", which was co-produced with British producerMura Masa,^[23] and another single in April, titled "SGSY" (standing for She's Gonna Slaughter You).^[24] The singles were released via TaP Records andTrue Panther Sounds.^[25][26]

Mayniel announced her debut mixtapeGalore in July 2020, sharing three tracks, one of which ("unearth me") was accompanied with a music video.^[27] Another three tracks from the mixtape were released in August 2020, alongside a music video for the "god’s chariots" track.^[28] The full mixtape was released 24 September 2020, via Because Music, TaP Records and True Panther Sounds.^[29] The tape was made primarily in collaboration with Casey MQ, but also featured collaborations with Sega Bodega, Shygirl,PC Music’sA. G. Cook andEASYFUN, andGRADES. It also appeared onGorilla vs. Bear,Rough Trade, and Dummy Mag’s 2020 year-end lists.^[30][31][32] Additionally in 2020, Mayniel released remixes ofCaroline Polachek’s "Door",^[33] andDua Lipa’s "Fever".^[34]

Mayniel produced a remix of French singerPomme’s "les cours d’eau" track in January 2021, followed by a remix of Swedish rapperBladee and producer Mechatok's "Rainbow" track in March 2021.^[35] Mayniel appeared on A. G. Cook'sApple vs. 7G remix album in May 2020, covering "Being Harsh" from Cook's 20207G 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.^[36] A remix EP celebratingGalore's anniversary was released on 13 October, featuring an extended mix of "asturias", and two remixes from Casey MQ, and Pomme &Danny L Harle.^[37]

She appeared onFlume'sPalaces album in May 2022, on the song "Highest Building". She supported him on the album's tour through the United States.^[38]

In 2024, Oklou began talking about a potential new project, before releasing a first single "Family and Friends" in September 2024, accompanied by a music video directed by Gil Gharbi.^[39] This track also included additional vocals from Casey MQ,Cecile Believe andZsela.^[40] Only a month later, in October 2024, a double single containing the tracks "Obvious" and "Harvest Sky" was released, the latter of which featuredUnderscores, an Americanhyperpop artist.^[41] This was followed only a month later with a fourth promotional track titled "Choke Enough", accompanied by an announcement for analbum of the same name, set to release on February 7, 2025, on the French labelBecause Music.^[42]

In a February 2025 interview withStereogum, Mayniel revealed that she is pregnant.^[43]

• Official website

• 1993 births
• Living people
• 21st-century French women musicians
• French women in electronic music
• French producers

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