Behind Oklou's Cover of Plain White T's ‘Hey There Delilah’ for Like A Version (Interview)

Why It Matters

The cover shows how emerging artists leverage iconic songs to break into new markets and keep live performance relevance in a streaming‑driven industry.

Key Takeaways

• Oklou chose “Hey There Delilah” for nostalgic teenage memories.
• Switched from guitar to cello after realizing she couldn’t play guitar.
• Performed remotely, rehearsing between hotels, flights, and laneways.
• Used Auto‑Tune but kept arrangement close to original version.
• First Australian Like A Version experience highlighted cultural excitement for her.

Summary

French electronic artist Oklou explains why she chose to reinterpret Plain White T’s 2006 hit “Hey There Delilah” for Triple J’s iconic “Like A Version” segment. The cover marks her first appearance on the Australian program and reflects a personal connection to the song from her teenage years.

She recounts swapping a planned guitar‑voice arrangement for a cello‑driven version after realizing she couldn’t play guitar without cutting her nails. The cello, she notes, mirrors the human vocal range, allowing her to blend familiar harmonies with her own timbre. Despite a four‑year hiatus from the instrument, she recorded the track using Auto‑Tune while staying true to the original melody.

Rehearsals occurred in cramped hotel rooms, airport lounges and city laneways, as both Oklou and guitarist Florian juggle parenting toddlers. “The light is not too bright, which is always appreciable,” she remarks, highlighting the intimate studio setup. She also cites inspiration from Olivia Dean’s recent Like A Version cover, which boosted her confidence to tackle the project.

The performance underscores how emerging artists can repurpose nostalgic pop hits to expand their global footprint, while preserving live musicianship amid heavily produced shows. Oklou’s willingness to adapt instrumentation and logistics illustrates a broader trend of flexible, cross‑market collaborations that resonate with both legacy fans and new listeners.

Original Description

Oklou takes you behind her cover of Plain White T's' 'Hey There Delilah' for triple j's Like A Version.

Subscribe: http://bit.ly/triplejsubscribe

Like A Version Interviews: http://bit.ly/BehindLAV

Like A Version on Music Streaming: http://abcmusic.lnk.to/LAVplaylist

Like A Version is a segment on Australian radio station triple j. Every week a musician or band performs one of their own songs and cover a song they love.

Watch Like A Version ad-free: http://triplej.net.au​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Production Credits

Senior Producer, Video: Brandon Lung

Senior Producer, Live Music: Greg Wales

Senior Producer, triple j: Max Lavergne

Video Producers: Claudine Ocampo, Oliver Quirk, Jed Nielsen, Katelyn Clark

Assistant Video Producer: Alexandra Sutcliffe

Live Music Producer: Eileen McDonald Sparks

Audio Engineer: Kieran Bowdidge

Assistant Audio Engineer: Ben Northmore

Executive Producer, Video: Jess Hallay

Executive Producer, Live Music: Cameron McCauley

Executive Producer, Digital: Amelia Rounds

Senior Legal Advisor: Sun Hoon

Business Affairs: Julia Kosky

Digital Manager, triple j: Emma Gibbs

Music Director, triple j: Nick Findlay

Head of triple j, Double J and Country: Lachlan Macara

#LikeAVersion