Breaking through the dimmed Metro Chicago, a lone beam of light shone through a gauzy white curtain, launching concertgoers into Oklou’s dreamlike world.
French producer and DJ Oklou performed on Monday night.
Just steps from Wrigley Field, the Metro — which also hosted an A&O Productions’ concert last spring — was packed with cheering fans to welcome the French musician.
Oklou has steadily made a name for herself in the electronic pop world. Her debut studio album, “choke enough,” was widely acclaimed by critics and brought her a new wave of fans.
Collaborations with Swedish artist Bladee and British pop star PinkPantheress, on “take me by the hand” and “Girl Like Me” respectively, have expanded her reach even further.
The night began with an opening set by umru, an Estonian-American hyperpop producer, whose unexpected assortment of synths and samples, including “The Leanover” by Life Without Buildings and A$AP Rocky’s “Fashion Killa,” established a pulsating, futuristic energy.
Oklou was joined on stage by Canadian producer Casey MQ, one of her closest collaborators. The set opened with the beautiful yet haunting intro of “ict,” followed by “thank you for recording.”
From there, the fan-favorite “obvious” set the stage for a calm night of pure sonic immersion. “take me by the hand,” one of her most-streamed songs on the album, left the audience swaying back and forth.
Oklou also sang MQ’s “The Make Believe” which she is featured on, filling the packed venue with angelic harmonies. Her soft, ethereal voice fused seamlessly with the electronic beat to submerge the audience in the set’s dreamy atmosphere.
Fans also cheered for the surprise appearance of another collaborating producer, underscores, in the performance of “harvest sky.” Despite its brevity, the unexpected collaboration hyped up the crowd for the rest of the night.
Oklou’s recent collaboration with FKA Twigs is another testament to her rise toward mainstream recognition. She performed the featured release “viscus,” to which, despite only being released two weeks ago, the audience effortlessly sang along.
Halfway through the set, Oklou performed “what’s good,” where she delivered ad-libs that were siren-like and hypnotic.
The “quest for meaning,” as Oklou describes her music, was pursued by the audience throughout the show. Attendees bopped their heads up and down in sync as they danced to the infectious beat of her music.
The stage itself was cloaked in fog and layered with warped projections that blurred in and out. During the first half of the show, Oklou performed under dim lighting that gave the stage a ghostly intimacy. But as she slipped on her metal headpiece, the lights exploded into chaos.
After Oklou made a fake exit, she returned for an encore with “want to wanna come back” and “blade bird.” As the final notes faded, she gave a tender goodbye in her charming French accent, to which Chicago responded with cheers.
Oklou’s music seemed to spark something deeper, perhaps inspiring a soul or two to keep searching for their own meaning.
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