By Luna Dong
TikTok this, Instagram that … In an age where socialization is increasingly digitized, the paradox of connectivity has never been greater. Amidst this toxic circle of stifling brainrot, fostering real human connections seems increasingly difficult. Oklou’s debut album, Choke Enough, serves as a masterful wake up call.
Oklou grew up loving artists like dälek and Gorillaz, influences which clearly manifest in her experimental and dynamic music. She was classically trained in piano and cello, and sang in choirs as a kid, which slowly helped her carve out her musical talent. “My way of apprehending music is almost academic, and I think that’s why I’ve always been fascinated and easily curious about more experimental music,” she said in an interview. Her signature electronic sound, a product of her curious and adventurous spirit, is so remarkable that she’s been invited to collaborate with artists like Caroline Polachek, Bladee, Pomme, and Casey MQ.
The first track of Choke Enough starts with a slight grumble of sound, resembling an underwater orchestra, that is quite fitting of the “choke” in the title. The whole album alternates between muffled and clear tones, a contrast that mimics the euphoric feeling of fresh air after being held underwater. The bass notes, composed of short, feathered fluffs of synth, nicely lay the ground for the dreamy notes in the higher register. The latter is filled with blots of electric notes that add a touch of brightness to the overall feeling of the album. The vocals seem to float in an out of the atmosphere, eliciting a visual not unlike little silver fish glimmering under flickering sunrays in the deep dark sea. Oklou accentuates the consonants (Linkin Park listeners will know what I’m talking about), adding a crisp, slightly robotic sound to the overall album. Overall, the musical simplicity resulting from a lack of big instrumental overlap, creating a strangely nostalgic feeling that is reminiscent of the playful technological integration of the early 2000s (think Frutiger Aero).
Speaking about the use of technology, a deeper dive into this album reveals its ultimate message: the current over-technologization of everything undermines true relationships, creating a hollow communal longing for connection. Oklou’ssinging voice is often accompanied by a strong echo, accentuating its clearly solitary nature. Combined with the existentialist lyrics, it is obvious that this album is a cry for help amidst the almost overly electric sound. One of the more obvious songs that demonstrate this is, conveniently, called “obvious.” It features lyrics like “speak louder than me,” “isn’t it obvious,” “force in everything,” and “you got pretty much everything you need to get by” which call out the overpowering capitalist voices and the lack of real satisfaction from overconsumption. Another song that calls to the yearning for interpersonal connection is “take me by the hand (feat. Bladee).” The lyrics “Take me by the hand / When the trouble calls our name” suggests that only genuine love can help one through hardships and thus, provide real satisfaction.
If it isn’t obvious enough, I love this album. If you’re into Bladee, Ecco2k, Grimes, Machine Girl, and/or 100 gecs – basically, if you’re cool and esoteric – you’ll love it too.