Fresh from her appearance on the Laneway Fest run, French-born, London-based artist Oklou brought her mesmerising ‘Choke Enough’ tour to Metro Theatre this week, delivering a performance that blurred the boundaries between the usual performer/audience dynamic of watchers and the watched.
The show opened with Naarm-based electronic producer Purient, whose set primed the crowd with her ethereal vocals and experimental textures. One-third of dream-pop band Acopia, Purient creates sonic worlds that shift between the delicate and the club-ready.
Against a backdrop resembling a giant studio sheet, the production design became a canvas for an extraordinary play of light. Oklou appeared with a signle spotlight, instantly flooding the front row with bright light. Oklou then became the sole audience member, setting her eyes on the fans and photographers drenched in the blinding spotlight in front of her.
The intentionality continued throughout the set. At one point, Oklou mimicked a search helicopter, the beam sweeping across the venue in a theatrical gesture that was absurdist and beautiful (think an interpretation of the old Dolby Cinema introduction). Later, her accompanist launched into a guitar solo, blue lasers erupting from the neck.
Oklou, who has built her reputation on crafting avant-pop that sits at the intersection of vaporwave, trip-hop, and trance, proved that her live show is as carefully architected as her soundscapes. Every visual choice served the emotional core of her work, and true to form, it was a delightful blend of glitchcore whimsy.
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