Choke Enough

Choke Enough
Studio album by Oklou
Released	7 February 2025 (2025-02-07)
Genre	Synth-pop bedroom pop [1] hypnagogic pop art pop
Length	35:44
Label	True Panther Sounds
Producer	Oklou Casey MQ Danny L Harle A. G. Cook
Oklou chronology
Galore Anniversary (2021) Choke Enough (2025)
Singles from Choke Enough
"Family and Friends" Released: 18 September 2024 "Harvest Sky / Obvious" Released: 16 October 2024 "Choke Enough" Released: 21 November 2024 "Take Me by the Hand" Released: 15 January 2025 "Blade Bird" Released: 5 February 2025 "Viscus" Released: 9 October 2025

Choke Enough (stylised in all lowercase) is the debut studio album by French musician, singer and producer Oklou. It released on 7 February 2025, via True Panther Sounds. The album features guest appearances by Swedish rapper and singer Bladee, and American musician Underscores. It was supported by the singles "Family and Friends", "Harvest Sky", the title track, "Take Me by the Hand", and "Blade Bird".

Background and recording

Similarly to her 2020 mixtape Galore, Choke Enough was made primarily in collaboration with Canadian musician Casey MQ. The album took Oklou two and a half years to finish, ^[2] and explores "the quest of meaning". ^[3] She stated:

Choke Enough is a very intense album for me. It's filled with directions, tentatives and irregularities, reflecting on my last years on this planet as my heart and conscience has really decentered from myself. ^[4]

The album was primarily recorded in Paris, Los Angeles, and Cap Ferret. ^[5]

Release and promotion

Oklou released the album's first single, "Family and Friends", on 18 September 2024. ^[6] She released "Harvest Sky" featuring Underscores and "Obvious" on 16 October 2024. ^[7] She announced the album on 21 November 2024 and released its title track. ^[8] She released "Take Me by the Hand" featuring Bladee as the album's fourth single on 15 January 2025. ^[9] "Blade Bird", the album's fifth single, was released on 5 February 2025. ^[10]

She announced a deluxe edition of the album, scheduled to release on 30 October 2025, on 8 October 2025 with the single "Viscus" featuring FKA Twigs. ^[11]

Remixes

In December 2024, Oklou released two remixes of "Harvest Sky" with Underscores: the Danny L Harle C Mix and the Milkfish remix (a moniker of Underscores).^{[ citation needed ]}

Oklou released a remix EP for the album on 25 June 2025 featuring remixes from producers Jamesjamesjames, Malibu, Nick Léon, and Aaron Hibell. ^[12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	84/100 [13]
Review scores
Source	Rating
Paste	8.8/10 [14]
Pitchfork	8/10 [15]
The Skinny	[16]
Sputnikmusic	3.6/5 [17]

Choke Enough was met with "universal acclaim" reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 84, based on 6 reviews. ^[13]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Endless"	Marylou Mayniel Nate Campany Danny L Harle Casey Manierka-Quaile	Oklou Casey MQ Harle [a]	3:36
2.	"Thank You for Recording"	Mayniel Caila Thompson-Hannant Manierka-Quaile Alexander Guy Cook	Oklou Casey MQ Cook	2:57
3.	"Family and Friends"	Mayniel Manierka-Quaile	Oklou Casey MQ	2:57
4.	"Obvious"	Mayniel Thompson-Hannant Manierka-Quaile	Oklou Casey MQ	2:16
5.	"Ict"	Mayniel Manierka-Quaile Cook	Oklou Cook Casey MQ	3:28
6.	"Choke Enough"	Mayniel Manierka-Quaile	Oklou Casey MQ Lucien Krampf [a]	4:00
7.	"(;´༎ຶٹ༎ຶ`) [b] "	Mayniel Leo Hoffsaes	Oklou	0:48
8.	"Take Me by the Hand" (featuring Bladee)	Mayniel Thompson-Hannant Manierka-Quaile Benjamin Reichwald	Oklou Casey MQ Harle [a]	2:52
9.	"Plague Dogs"	Mayniel Manierka-Quaile	Oklou Casey MQ	1:46
10.	"Forces"	Mayniel Manierka-Quaile	Oklou Casey MQ	1:05
11.	"Harvest Sky" (featuring Underscores)	Mayniel Campany April Harper Grey Harle Manierka-Quaile	Oklou Harle Casey MQ Nick Léon [a] Underscores [a]	3:54
12.	"Want to Wanna Come Back"	Mayniel Manierka-Quaile	Oklou Casey MQ Harle [a]	2:46
13.	"Blade Bird"	Mayniel Campany Manierka-Quaile	Oklou Casey MQ	3:19
Total length:				35:44

Physical Release bonus track

No.	Title	Length
14.	"Unknown track (Bébé Lou)"	2:43
Total length:		40:23 [c]

Choke Enough (Deluxe) track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
14.	"Viscus" (featuring FKA Twigs)	Mayniel Harle Manierka-Quaile Tahliah Debrett Barnett	Oklou Harle	3:41
15.	"What's Good"	Mayniel Manierka-Quaile	Oklou Casey MQ	3:24
16.	"The Fishsong Unplugged"	Grey	Oklou Florian Le Prise	3:05
17.	"Dance 2"	Mayniel Manierka-Quaile	Oklou Sega Bodega	4:52
Total length:				50:46

Notes

• All tracks are stylised in all lowercase.
• ^{^[a]} signifies an additional producer.
• ^{^[b]} The title is pronounced “snif,” and for a brief period, it was even renamed as such on Spotify.^{[ citation needed ]}
• ^{^[c]} There is a 1:56 minutes long silence between blade bird and bébé lou, extending the album playtime to 40:23 minutes.

Personnel

• Oklou – executive production, mixing (tracks 7, 10)
• Nathan A. Salon – saxophone (track 1)
• Casey MQ – vocal choir (track 3)
• Zsela – vocal choir (track 3)
• Cecile Believe – vocal choir (track 3)
• Lillian Mille – trumpet (track 4)
• Lucien Krampf – vocal engineering (track 6)
• Florian Le Prisé – guitar (track 13)
• Nathan Boddy – mixing (tracks 1–6, 8, 9, 11–13)
• Matt Colton – mastering
• Anthony Naples – Atmos mixing
• Gil Gharbi – photography
• Florian Solin – photography
• Kim Coussée – artwork

Charts

Chart performance for Choke Enough

Chart (2025)	Peak position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [18]	80
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [19]	161
French Albums (SNEP) [20]	80
UK Albums (OCC) [21]	83
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [22]	4
Scottish Albums (OCC) [23]	12

References

1. "Bedroom-Synth-Pop, der von den Wänden der adoleszenten Echokammer widerhallt". 12 February 2025.
2. Akendele, Rianne (21 November 2024). "Oklou Says It's Okay to Make Life A Performance of Your Own Rite". Office Magazine. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
3. Wille, Matthew (22 November 2024). "Oklou Sprints Toward Meaning With Forthcoming Debut Album". Paper. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
4. "Oklou Announces Debut Album 'choke enough,' Shares Title Track". Exclaim. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
5. Gaca, Anna (1 October 2025). "Oklou's Endless Summer". Pitchfork. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
6. Murray, Robin (18 September 2024). "Oklou Shares New Single 'family and friends'". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
7. Sacher, Andrew (16 October 2024). "Oklou shares 2 new songs (one ft. underscores), announces 2025 tour". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
8. Chelosky, Danielle (22 November 2024). "Oklou Announces New Album 'choke enough': Hear The Title Track". Stereogum. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
9. Garvey, Meaghan (16 January 2025). "Oklou / Bladee: "take me by the hand"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
10. Murray, Robin (5 February 2025). "Oklou Shares Striking New Single 'blade bird'". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
11. Breihan, Tom (9 October 2025). "Oklou Announces 'Choke Enough' Deluxe Album, Shares FKA twigs Collab "Viscus"". Stereogum. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
12. Monroe, Jazz (25 June 2025). "Oklou Releases New Remix EP Featuring Nick León, Malibu, and More: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
13. "choke enough by Oklou". Metacritic . Retrieved 4 July 2025.
14. Mitchell, Matt (27 February 2025). "Oklou - Choke Enough Review". Paste . Retrieved 4 July 2025.
15. Green, Walden (10 February 2025). "Pitchfork Review". Pitchfork . Retrieved 4 July 2025.
16. Macartney, Ian (4 February 2025). "Oklou - Choke Enough". The Skinny . Retrieved 4 July 2025.
17. "Oklou - Choke Enough". Sputnikmusic . 27 February 2025. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
18. "Ultratop.be – Oklou – Choke Enough" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
19. "Ultratop.be – Oklou – Choke Enough" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
20. "Lescharts.com – Oklou – Choke Enough". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
21. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
22. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
23. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 February 2025.