Guitars, etc.: Jason Robbins
Keys, vocals: Pia Robbins


The Comforters - Pia and Jason Robbins - live in Eugene, Oregon with their dog, Walrus. The husband/wife duo write warm and inviting songs that evoke the rich story telling of roots and folk music with pop sensibilities and melodies.


The Comforters draw from a wellspring of influences, but cite the three B’s as their foundation: Beatles, Bergman, Bacharach. Jason explains, “The Beatles, I don’t think I really need to say anything else, do I? With Bergman, it’s the pace, the shadows, the internal life, the close up as the tip of the iceberg. Bacharach, well, we feel quite free to use major 7th chords whenever we darn well feel like it, thank you very much! But really, it comes down to the fact that we write songs that we want to hear, about things that interest us, songs that may well evolve into cinematic-style productions, but can hold their own when played with just a piano or guitar.”

Pia sums up The Comforters’s songwriting atmosphere: “A piano, an acoustic guitar, and lots of trees.” “Yeah, there’s definitely something about the pacific northwest,” adds Jason, “that really lends itself to creativity …it’s a very liberating setting.”



Transplants

The Comforters recorded Transplants at their own  Big Timbre Studio in Eugene. Jason has engineered and produced records by artists such as Dwight Yoakam, Pete Anderson, Michelle Shocked, Curt Kirkwood.


“We worked hard on crafting a record that has a unified sound”, says Jason, “even if we wander around stylistically. With Pia – you know, she has such a beautiful voice that communicates so much, that it’s just painting around that with sounds and textures.” The irony is that, while on the surface there is an air of tranquility and endless calm to the album, the songs reveal an unsettling dead-calm that is the backdrop to affairs, depression, heartbreak, alienation and yes, some negative things as well.


The Comforters have quickly found ears tuned to the bittersweet in life. Their songs are receiving airplay on several radio programs across the U.S and in Europe. The Comforters have had songs placed in films and other media. Most recently their song, I Want To Rock, made a trip to the 2010 SXSW Film Festival. It was featured in the film Girls Named Pinky.


Two Piece Orchestra

The Comforters' new album, Two Piece Orchestra is set for a June 2010 release.