Oklou and Similar Artists (A review)

This week I will be discussing my favorite sub-genre/vibe in music. I’ve been quite attracted to trap beats and drums (i.e high hats and bass) combined with feminine vocals and synths. What comes to mind for me in particular are Tirzah, Eartheater, and Oklou. These female artists' music feels dreamy, futuristic, and some dance/electronic sprinkled in. I hope you enjoy listening to these talented women as much as I do.

"trip9love. . .?" album cover

I’ve been a listener of Tirzah since the beginning of October 2023 after she announced her U.S tour (which was postponed to many months later), relatively close to when . Seeing Tirzah perform live last August was one of my favorite concerts ever; my friend and I were able to stand at the barricade, the transportation was easy, and the set time was just perfect. "trip9love. . .?" has an eerie, avant-garde, dynamic, and haze to it that I admire. There is no album quite like it and if there is, please send it my way. It's difficult to pick a favorite off this one so I will leave it to the listener to decide. Apart from the album, "Send Me" is one of my favorite tracks as it has a yearning and romantic melody with an aggressive sort of distorted outro. Tirzah's voice is like vitamin; so good for the soul.

Eartheater in Slug Magazine

Another amazing vocalist and producer, Eartheater, who is based in Queens, NY, is an artist . I got into Eartheater relatively close to the same time I did Tirzah. I recommend listening to the Trinity album. One of my favorite tracks is "Preservation." It contains some fun synthy tones and I love the underlying bass that makes it feel like a trance flow. For some reason it reminds me of a damp and fog-filled autumn day. If mellowy and romantic rhythms are your thing her track "Crushing" off her "Powders" album is an excellent go-to.

Oklou in Future Gold Media

I’m a little upset that this artist is relatively trending on Tiktok but it is what she deserves. . . I guess I can't be disappointed at an artist's growth. Oklou is a french producer and artist who has recently came out with her electronic dreamy pop album, “Choke Enough”. As an introduction to her music I highly recommend watching this NTS Session video as it feels like experiencing an immersive performance. "blade bird" is such an underrated track as its melancholic yet has a catchy chorus and fun guitar rhythms. The song titles are also creative and fun such as "ict" which is an abbreviation for "ice cream truck." I admire her drumless rhythms as well in her song "obvious" and the trumpets are highly addictive. I’m looking forward to seeing Oklou in October at Metro.