Maqlu released her debut EP, Blood, at the end of April 2010. All writing/composition, performance, production, and engineering was done by Pyra Draculea. Further releases include Black, Haze, The Maqlu Tarot, and Futureghosts.
Influences include Public Image Limited, Nine Inch Nails, Skinny Puppy, Diamanda Galás and Depeche Mode.
Aside from her own music, Maqlu remixes, including for Left Spine Down, iVardensphere, Virtual Terrorist, and Drowning Susan.
Love Is
Maqlu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Usually perverse
Got you in my sights
Come on compel
Lead me through Hell
Just put up a fight
Love is our curse
I dreamt us locked at the seams
Masks held firmly to mislead
Show your true face
Let me see who you are
Chasm born aquamarine
On and off to breed intrigue
Hide your true face
Let me steal who you are
Better or worse
Usually perverse
Got you in my sights
Come on compel
Lead me through Hell
Just put up a fight
Love is our curse
Brings out our worst
Poison with the sweetest taste
Lure me in
Lay me to waste
Better or worse
Usually perverse
Got you in my sights
Come on compel
Lead me through Hell
Just put up a fight
Love is our curse
Brings out our worst
Wake me up...
The first verse of "Love Is" by Maqlu speaks to the dark and twisted nature of the singer's love. They see their partner as perverse, but they are still drawn to them and want them to "compel" and lead them through "Hell." The chorus declares that love is their curse and brings out their worst qualities. The second verse describes a dream where the singer sees their partner's true self and wants them to show it to them in waking life. The bridge compares their love to poison with a sweet taste that ultimately leads to destruction. The final repetition of the chorus is a plea to be woken up from this harmful love.
Overall, the song seems to be about a toxic and dysfunctional relationship where love is the driving force behind all the drama and hurt. The singer is honest about how they are drawn to the dark and perverse aspects of their partner, but they are also aware of the destructive nature of their love. The dream sequence in the second verse adds an interesting layer to the song, suggesting that the singer is not content with simply playing out these dynamics in reality and wants to see something different from their partner. The song is haunting and intense, with a dark energy that matches the twisted love it describes.
Line by Line Meaning
Better or worse
Love can bring out the best or the worst in us.
Usually perverse
Love often takes unconventional, even twisted forms.
Got you in my sights
I am focused on you and won't let go.
Come on compel
Challenge me, push me to my limits.
Lead me through Hell
Take me to the darkest places of your soul.
Just put up a fight
Don't surrender easily, make me work for your love.
Love is our curse
Our love is a burden that we cannot escape.
Brings out our worst
Our love exposes our flaws and weaknesses.
I dreamt us locked at the seams
I saw us as inseparable, bound by destiny.
Masks held firmly to mislead
We pretend to be someone we are not to protect ourselves.
Show your true face
Reveal your innermost self to me, no matter how ugly or vulnerable.
Let me see who you are
I want to know the real you, not the façade you put up for others.
Chasm born aquamarine
Our love is like an abyss, deep and blue, with hidden dangers.
On and off to breed intrigue
We play games with each other, alternating between passion and indifference.
Hide your true face
Protect your heart from me, don't reveal too much too soon.
Let me steal who you are
I want to unravel the mystery of your soul, even if it means breaking your trust.
Poison with the sweetest taste
Our love is addictive and toxic, like a drug that kills slowly.
Lure me in
Seduce me, make me crave for more of your affection.
Lay me to waste
Destroy me, break my heart, leave me empty and alone.
Wake me up...
I am lost in the nightmare of our love, hoping to be saved or released.
Contributed by Evan B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.