French singer and producer Oklou emerges from the shadows with her latest single "family and friends," marking her first solo release since her 2020 mixtape, Galore, and remix EPs. Signed under the record label True Panther, Oklou has consistently pushed boundaries in pop, gravitating toward dreamy, soothing experimental sounds. She has collaborated with many renowned artists, such as Caroline Polachek, Flume, Sega Bodega, and A. G. Cook, and continues to evolve her unique sound.
The entirety of Galore feels like a humid July night in solitude, with crickets chirping to fill the void of emotional longing and healing. Oklou seamlessly blends futuristic-sounding synths with natural, atmospheric field recordings, rendering an otherworldly ambiance to her music.
"family and friends" retains her core production style while transitioning into a new thematic season. Oklou delves into feelings of isolation and detachment during winter, capturing the sense of being internally 'frozen' and physically trapped in December. The track begins with a soft synth that mimics a xylophone, which is then layered with ambient synth pads and gentle wind instrumentals as the song progresses. With every listen, new sounds emerge, making the listening experience exponentially pleasurable.
Something significant is on the horizon for Oklou, and "family and friends" is just the beginning.
Stream "family and friends" on all DSP's.
