Winona Oak

Winona Oak (born Johanna Ekmark on October 8, 1994) is a Swedish singer-songwriter, who gained notoriety in the electronic music world after a couple of high-profile collaborations with some of the scene’s most celebrated acts. Hailing from the Nordic forests of Sollerön, Ekmark grew up in a musical household, studying violin and piano from a very early age. After moving to Stockholm to pursue a career in music, she attended Neon Gold’s writing retreat in Nicaragua, where she befriended Australian electronic music producer Emoh Instead (of What So Not fame). The pair hit it off quickly, and in 2018 Ekmark went on to co-write and sing on What So Not’s “Better,” “Stuck,” and “Beautiful”. That same year, she was featured on The Chainsmokers’ viral hit “Hope” and released “Don’t Save Me,” a Haim cover that signaled her debut as a solo artist. The following year, Ekmark received her first taste of recognition when “Beautiful” won an award for Best Independent Dance/Electronica/Club single at the AIR Independent Music Awards. Preceded by the original singles “He Don’t Love Me,” “Let Me Know,” and “Break My Broken Heart,” the EP Closure saw the light of day in 2020, garnering praises from critics and audiences alike.