Since Primitive Normative was my first concept album, I got more attentive on thematic compatibility between all songs is I got further into recording the album. In the summer of 2015, I was entering the home stretch of finishing Primitive Normative while writing the rest of the remaining music for the album. I wrote the music for "Welcome Aboard" on August 23, 2015. It's a low tempo tune with a recurring rhythmic guitar riff playing punchy chords. I knew that rhythmic riff would serve a big role as the song's main motif, and I knew I could do a lot with it around the verses of the tune.
In the fall of 2015, I only had a couple of songs left for Primitive Normative when I wrote the lyrics for "Welcome Aboard" on November 14, 2015. I wanted to have an opening track that could summarize the main theme of the concept album. While Primitive Normative has the quasi-title tracks "Primal Desire" and "Normal Life", "Welcome Aboard" is somewhat of an overture for the entire album's concept. The concept of Primitive Normative deals with non-conformists in a conformists' world. The idea that the more normal and typical we are in a society, the more primitive we end up being in our own existence. And because of that, we lose sight of our individuality. "Welcome Aboard" surrounds the subject of a female new-born child being born into a family and society she cannot relate to. Being welcomed into a life of compliance. As she grows older, she learns more about her individuality. But it contradicts with the conformity expected of her through her family, schools, and society at large. It's the individual v.s. the mask.
I started recording "Welcome Aboard" on November 9, 2015. While the main rhythmic guitar riff appears 7 different times in the song, there is a new instrumental element added each time. From harmony guitars to an acoustic guitar. The song also gets adventurous with backup vocal harmonies. Colouring the verses and getting spontaneous in the bridges and choruses. "Welcome Aboard" is a song that I always musically describe as 7 guitars v.s. 6 vocals. The layering gets more aggressive as the song progresses. There's also an organ added in the last verse, last bridge and last chorus. The drums use 16th notes on the hi-hat during the rhythmic guitar riff and there are some bass drum triplets added at certain times. Which is something I didn't do often on my programmed drums. I finished recording "Welcome Aboard" on November 27, 2015 and the entire Primitive Normative album was released the next month on December 31, 2015.
"Welcome Aboard" was recorded intentionally to be the opening track from Primitive Normative. I felt like the concept album needed a proper introduction to kick off the album. It's a song that's both heavy and soft. Although the tune has a ton of melody and vibrant instrumentation, I've never performed the song solo or with a band. "Welcome Aboard" is just one of those tunes I want to keep strictly as a recording. Because it belongs to Primitive Normative. And I want to keep it sacred towards that album's concept.
lyrics
Words and music by Nolan Randall
A child is born in a minor way
Innocent words that she cannot say
Parents want her to go by the rules
She'll find herself away from the schools
Yes, she was prematurely given a decision
Her folks wanted to see a normative design
Never a thought that she might squander her own vision
It takes a lot to draw the line
Strike a chord, you're welcome aboard
But if you don't agree you may be ignored
Strike a chord, you're welcome aboard
And if you look ahead, you may see a reward
Growing up fast and it never ends
She cannot stay with the same old friends
Nobody sees the world like she does
Seeing the world in step all because she's got a buzz
They want her to follow the steps that she's been given
Regardless of the way she wants to walk the earth
Too many setbacks leave a primitive position
Seems like the way it did at birth
Strike a chord, you're welcome aboard
But if you don't agree you may be ignored
Strike a chord, you're welcome aboard
And if you look ahead, you may see a reward
Waiting for the day where it all comes to fruition
What she believes is that it will happen for her
Knowing that she needs to follow her intuition
To live that life that she'll prefer
Strike a chord, you're welcome aboard
But if you don't agree you may be ignored
Strike a chord, you're welcome aboard
And if you look ahead, you may see a reward
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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