Comes From Within

from Live At The Roundhouse by Plaid On Flannel

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about

*Song Description By Noles*

Most of the music for "Comes From Within" was written on January 5, 2014. At that point, I had written everything but the guitar riff for the song. With lyrics still pending. On February 15, 2014, the Plaid On Flannel band started as a 3-piece. Throughout that year, I was writing more material leading up to the recording of the Primitive Normative album, and I wanted to make tunes that could work well in a 3-piece setting. I figured "Comes From Within" could be one of those songs. The lyrics for "Comes From Within" were written on July 1, 2014. The basic meaning of the song is finding happiness in loneliness. Because of a well contained spirit inside of one's self. People can feel lonely even when they're around other people. But with a certain self-awareness and peace of mind, some people can never be lonely in any situation. "Comes From Within" is really about knowing yourself and enjoying your own company.

I started recording the Primitive Normative album on August 31, 2014, and began producing "Comes From Within" on November 13, 2014. The song begins with a drum beat by itself. As I got into recording "Comes From Within", I decided the tune needed a guitar riff. So I wrote a guitar riff that goes along with the same chord progression as the chorus. Acting as a motif while previewing the chorus chord progression. The guitar riff for "Comes From Within" was inspired by the guitar riff from "Open My Eyes" by Rival Sons. But I added arpeggios on my riff to give it more twang. At the time, I had just discovered Rival Sons after watching them perform "Open My Eyes" on Late Show with David Letterman. I was blown away by the band and they began influencing Plaid On Flannel's music from that point forward.

Although I wrote "Comes From Within" so it could be played in a 3-piece band, I still added keyboards throughout the song. In fact, the keyboards have a lot to do with the song's overall character. The keyboard effect I used through MIDI on my DAW for "Comes From Within" is called Eighties Thin Organ. It's an organ effect I've used quite a bit in the Plaidalog. The timbre of that organ is spooky and goofy at the same time. Like it's Halloween. The pre-chorus for "Comes From Within" uses a call-and-response between lead vocals and guitar licks. The guitar responses use a pull-off technique I was exploring a lot at the time. For the guitar in "Comes From Within", there's a capo on the 3rd fret and it's in drop-D tuning. I finished recording "Comes From Within" on December 1, 2014.

Keyboardist Jen Doyon joined the Plaid On Flannel band on February 22, 2015. We began rehearsing "Comes From Within" before the Primitive Normative album was released on December 31, 2015. The song got transposed down one semi-tone for it to get closer to my natural vocal range. Although we never recorded the song as a band, we played it at live shows quite a bit. "Comes From Within" is a song I'm sure will stick around in POF's live repertoire for a long time.

lyrics

Words and music by Nolan Randall

People gathered now from all around
It's so easy to get lost
Keep your feet from falling off the ground
With every path you will cross

You never feel out of place
May not know a single face
To reassure your own soul
You have to take self control

I never realized it felt this way
And we're goin' for a ride

I don't know where I come from
But this feeling is under my skin
I'm feeling better all by myself
With this spirit that comes from within

Every morning is another day, and I feel so all alone
Wonder if there is another way
But I feel that I have grown

It's like I've cleared my own mind
Never to waste my own time
Pushing some weight on my own
Creating a comfort zone

I never realized it felt this way
And we're goin' for a ride

I don't know where I come from
But this feeling is under my skin
I'm feeling better all by myself
With this spirit that comes from within

I never realized it felt this way
And we're goin' for a ride

I don't know where I come from
But this feeling is under my skin
I'm feeling better all by myself
With this spirit that comes from within
I don't know where I come from
But this feeling is under my skin
I'm feeling better all by myself
With this spirit that comes from within

credits

from Live At The Roundhouse, released October 28, 2016

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Plaid On Flannel Toronto, Ontario

Plaid On Flannel is an alternative indie blues rock act from Toronto, Canada. With 80+ original songs recorded since 2011, singer-songwriter Nolan Randall has remained the sole constant member of the band. POF's music is known for guitar riffs/solos, memorable hooks, catchy melodies/harmonies, evocative lyrics, & superb musicianship. While keeping a focus on originality and songwriting quality. ... more

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