Mareux, one of the most popular darkwave acts in the world, has unveiled the haunting video for the title track of his debut album, Lovers From the Past. In a recent article by The Guardian, darkwave was recognized as one of the hottest trends in pop music, and Mareux, the enigmatic project of Los Angeles-based musician and producer Aryan Ashtiani, stands at its forefront. The visual masterpiece released today perfectly complements the album’s themes of unfulfilled desires and ghostly lovers.
The title track, “Lovers From the Past,” delves into themes of longing, unrequited love, and the relentless grip of past relationships. Mareux’s melancholic lyrics and raw, foreboding vocals are paired with an eerie synth backdrop, creating a deeply nostalgic and haunting atmosphere:
“Let’s do
What great lovers do
I want to be
Just like you
But you give yourself away
To a lover from the past”
These lines poignantly capture the torment of watching a loved one remain tethered to memories and emotions of a former lover, unable to fully embrace the present relationship. The melancholic tone of the lyrics perfectly aligns with the song’s haunting musicality.
A Muted Widows Production, directed by Michael E Linn and Nedda Afsari, the video for “Lovers From The Past” stars Mareux and Sedona Legge, with supporting performances by John Hein, Rachel Daily, Ted Buchanan, James Miller, and Milana Burdette. The series of imagery channels the surreal aesthetics of Tim Burton and David Lynch. It begins with an ethereal woman at the top of a Victorian Mansion, her crystalline eye glistening as the camera zooms in. She wanders through a hedge maze, leading us to Mareux and his band performing amidst Roman pillars, busts, and statues. The dreamlike narrative intersperses scenes of a seedy woman and a man blowing cigar smoke by a swimming pool, a gardener methodically trimming hedges, and a woman photographer using an old-fashioned camera. The eerie journey concludes with the revelation that the grand house is, in fact, a dollhouse, encapsulating the video’s haunting and otherworldly vibe.
Watch the video for “Lovers From The Past” below:
Regarding the album, Mareux has previously shared, “For me, Lovers From the Past marks the first time that my work has been organized in a very intentional and curated way. It’s taken me over a dozen years to get here from when I first began writing music. It’s the absolute best bit of my creative qualities and storytelling. I love setting the mood and this album is incredibly moody. I hope it can inspire and connect with my fans for years to come.”
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