Winona Oak

Winona Oak
Background information
Birth nameJohanna Ewana Ekmark
Born (1994-10-08) 8 October 1994 (age 30)
Umeå, Sweden
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
InstrumentVocals
Years active2018–present
Labels

Johanna Ewana Ekmark (born 8 October 1994), also known as Winona Oak and sometimes as Oaks,[1] is a Swedish singer-songwriter. In 2018, she became known for her cover of the Haim song "Don't Save Me" and collaborative singles like "Beautiful" (with What So Not) and "Hope" (with The Chainsmokers).

Early life

Oak was born in Umeå but grew up on Sollerön,[2] an island in Lake Siljan in the central-southerly locality of Mora. She graduated from Moragymnasiet in 2013[3] and later moved to Stockholm.[4]

Career

In February 2018, Oak collaborated with What So Not for the single "Beautiful",[5] which won Best Independent Dance/Electronica/Club single at the AIR Independent Music Awards in July 2019.[6]

In October 2018, Oak signed to Neon Gold and Atlantic.[7]

Oak was featured on The Chainsmokers second studio album, Sick Boy (released December 2018), in the song "Hope". For the music video of the song, Oak appeared in "dressed in a tan trench coat and red flannel shirt".[8]

On 10 December 2018 Oak released a music video for her cover of the song "Don't Save Me” by Haim, via Neon Gold and Atlantic.[7]

Oak released her debut studio album Island of the Sun on 10 June 2022.

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details
Island of the Sun

EPs

Title Details
Closure
  • Released: 10 January 2020
  • Labels: Neon Gold, Atlantic
  • Format: Digital download
She
  • Released: 23 October 2020
  • Labels: Neon Gold, Atlantic
  • Format: Digital download
Void
  • Released: 3 May 2024
  • Labels: Atlantic
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

As lead artist

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
CZE
[10] 		SVK
[11] 		SWI
[12]
"Don't Save Me"[13] 2018 — — — Non-album single
"He Don't Love Me"[14] 2019 — — — Closure & Island of the Sun
"Break My Broken Heart"[15] — — —
"Let Me Know"[16] — — — Closure
"Lonely Hearts Club" 2020 — — —
"Oxygen"
(with Robin Schulz) 		7 33 81 Non-album singles
"Thinking About You"[17]
(with R3hab) 		— — —
"With Myself" — — — She
"Piano in the Sky" — — — She & Island of the Sun
"She" — — — She
"Winter Rain" 2021 — — — Non-album singles
"Nobody Loves Me"
(featuring Elio) 		— — —
"Lonely Hearts Club"
(with Leebada) 		— — —
"Old Insecurities" — — —
"World We Used to Know"
(with Alan Walker) 		— — — World of Walker
"Island of the Sun" 2022 — — — Island of the Sun[9]
"Baby Blue" — — —
"Jojo" — — —
"With or Without You" 2023 — — — Void
"Fire Escapes" — — —
"Fragile Thing" — — —
"If I Were to Die" 2024 — — —
"Inside Out"
(with Boy in Space) 		— — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
SWE
[18] 		AUS
[19] 		AUT
[20] 		CZE NL
[21] 		NOR
[22] 		NZ
[23] 		SWI
[12]
"Beautiful"[24]
(What So Not featuring Winona Oak) 		2018 — — — — — — — — Non-album single
"Hope"
(The Chainsmokers featuring Winona Oak) 		63 36 56 20 70 40 27 71 Sick Boy
"One by One"[1]
(Robin Schulz x Topic featuring Oaks) 		2024 — — — — — — — — TBA
"Carry You"
(Martin Garrix x Third Party featuring Oaks & Declan J Donovan) 		2024 — — — — — — — — IDEM
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Awards and nominations

AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2019[25] "Beautiful" (featuring What So Not) Best Independent Dance, Electronica or Club Single Won

References

  1. ^ a b "Robin Schulz and Topic Unleash Electrifying Dance Anthem "One By One" Featuring Oaks". Clubbing TV. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Winona Oak". Winona Oak. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  3. ^ Student days (in Swedish)
  4. ^ "The Chainsmokers drop heartfelt 'Hope'". Dancing Astronaut. 2018-12-16. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
  5. ^ "What So Not Introduces Winona Oak With "Beautiful"". NYLON. 2018-02-27. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
  6. ^ "AIR Awards:2019 AIR Awards Winners Announced!". AIM. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Winona Oak Signs to Neon Gold/Atlantic Records, Debuts Video For 'Don't Save Me' Cover: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
  8. ^ "The Chainsmokers Complete 'Sick Boy' Album With 'Hope' Featuring Winona Oak: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
  9. ^ a b "Island of the Sun by Winona Oak". Apple Music. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  10. ^ "ČNS IFPI". hitparada.ifpicr.cz. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
  11. ^ "ČNS IFPI". hitparada.ifpicr.cz. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
  12. ^ a b "Discography Winona Oak". swisscharts.com. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  13. ^ "Don't Save Me – Single by Winona Oak". iTunes. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
  14. ^ "He Don't Love Me – Single by Winona Oak". Apple Music. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
  15. ^ "Break My Broken Heart – Single by Winona Oak". Apple Music. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
  16. ^ "Let Me Know – Single by Winona Oak". Apple Music. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  17. ^ "Thinking About You – Single by R3HAB & Winona Oak". Apple Music. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  18. ^ "Discography Winona Oak". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  19. ^ "Discography Winona Oak". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  20. ^ "Discographie Winona Oak". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  21. ^ "Discografie Winona Oak". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  22. ^ "Discography Winona Oak". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  23. ^ "Discography Winona Oak". charts.nz. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  24. ^ "WHAT SO NOT Reveals New Single BEAUTIFUL Feat. Winona Oak and Via Nylon". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
  25. ^ "2019 AIR Awards Nominees". 28 March 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2020.

Further reading