Mirabilis is a neoclassical darkwave/ethereal project from United States, s… Read Full Bio ↴Mirabilis is a neoclassical darkwave/ethereal project from United States, started in 2001 by Dru Allen of This Ascension and Summer Bowman of The Machine in the Garden. Using vocals as the primary instrumentation, Mirabilis crafts original musical compositions as well as interprets traditional classical vocal pieces from a number of different periods. The music is melodic and rich and borrows from classical, ethereal, darkwave, and gothic genres.

The name Mirabilis is Latin for something that is wonderful, miraculous, or unusual. The two women see their musical union as an amazing and unique experience and the name embodies those sentiments. Dru and Summer are the core members of Mirabilis, but they use the project as an avenue to bring in other like-minded artists as guest performers to create something that is extraordinary and unique.

In 2001, Mirabilis made their debut on Projekt Records' holiday compilation, Excelsis, Volume 3 with their rendition of the Spanish carol, "Riu Riu Chiu." In December of 2003, the band's first release, a limited edition 7-inch self-titled EP was released on Fossil Dungeon. They quickly followed up with a full-length debut CD, Pleiades, in 2004 on the Middle Pillar Presents label. Pleiades blends together the beautiful voices of Summer and Dru as well as guest vocalists Regeana Morris (of The Changelings), Katy Belle (of Matson Belle), and Rebecca Colleen Miller.

In 2008, Mirabilis returns with the second full length album, Sub Rosa. Released in partnership between Middle Pillar Presents and Projekt, the release has a unique intensity and style, showcasing a broader range of instruments and styles while still exploring familiar classical and ethereal ground. Vocals continue to shine as the dominant instrumentation but Dru and Summer also explore a variety of new lush instruments and still remain true to their own unique genre.

Summer Bowman is half of acclaimed gothic/darkwave duo the Machine in the Garden. Summer has performed roles as both a singer and songwriter and has also become involved in the recording studio engineering, mixing, and producing. In addition to these projects, Summer performs with the Austin Civic Chorus, the featured chorus of the Austin Symphony Orchestra.

Dru Allen has also put her stamp on the ethereal world, having co-founded the band This Ascension. The group blends standard indie rock with tribal elements and a number of vocal styles including opera, medieval, and traditional folk. In addition, Dru performed in the University of California Santa Barbara Women's Ensemble every quarter for four years while working towards her degree in Classical Latin and Greek.

Discography:
2003 - Mirabilis (EP)
2004 - Pleiades
2008 - Sub Rosa

Permafrost
Mirabilis Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The white bird
(The white bird for her comes)
Calls out for her
Thin tundra veils
(The ice is forming)
Permafrost earth

Grey stone

(There when it called)
Retreating wind
The moor calls
(Follows you back here)
Desolation zone

A cutting air
(Like a friend of yore)
Finds the cracks
In my outer layer
(Sadly wraps around)
To slip inside

The black bird
(Left the ties of old)
Answers her
My tundra veil
(We are strong, we are sound, we go)
Permafrost earth

The night bird comes for me
From kingdom laced with frost
Ensconced in earth it stays
We go

Ensconced it stays
We hardly know, we hardly thought, we go

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Permafrost by Mirabilis depict the cold and isolated atmosphere of the Arctic tundra. The white bird represents a beacon of hope, calling out to the singer and guiding her through the freezing terrain. The thin tundra veils and permafrost earth serve as a reminder of the unforgiving nature of the environment.

The second stanza invokes the image of grey stone and retreating wind, emphasizing the barren and empty landscape. The moor calls out, promising a sense of familiarity, but ultimately leading to a desolation zone. The cutting air finds its way through the singer's outer layer, highlighting the difficulty of survival in such an extreme place.

The black bird serves as a contrast to the white bird, symbolizing detachment from the past and the embrace of the present. The line "we are strong, we are sound, we go" represents a determination to persevere and not give up in the face of adversity.

Overall, the lyrics of Permafrost depict the overall theme of resilience and survival in a harsh environment, with the singer relying on inner strength and courage to push through tough times.

Line by Line Meaning

The white bird
The bird of white color appears in her imagination

Calls out for her
The bird in her imagination attracts her attention

Thin tundra veils
The thin covers of ice form in the cold weather

Permafrost earth
The permanently frozen earth below the thin layer of soil

Grey stone
The dull-colored stone in front of her

Retreating wind
The wind which disappears gradually

The moor calls
The moor behind the stone invites her

Desolation zone
The area without any sign of life

A cutting air
The chilly air cuts through her skin

Finds the cracks
The air enters into the tiny holes on her skin

In my outer layer
In the outermost layer of her body