Something Comforting

"Something Comforting" is a song recorded by American electronic music producer Porter Robinson. Released on March 10, 2020 as the second single from his second studio album Nurture, the song was written and produced by Robinson himself. Robinson also provided the vocals for the track. The song is representative of Robinson's struggles with creative blocks and depression.[3]

"Something Comforting"
Single by Porter Robinson
from the album Nurture
ReleasedMarch 10, 2020
RecordedJune 14, 2015 – August 8, 2019
Genre
Length
  • 4:42 (album version)
  • 4:29 (video version)
LabelMom + Pop
Songwriter(s)Porter Robinson
Producer(s)Porter Robinson
Porter Robinson singles chronology
"Get Your Wish"
(2020)		 "Something Comforting"
(2020)		 "Mirror"
(2020)
Music video
"Something Comforting" on YouTube

"Something Comforting" is featured as a playable song in the arcade game Dance Dance Revolution A3.

Composition

"I went through a pretty intense creative struggle and depression in the years like 2015, 2016...but it was during that time that I wrote this section of 'Something Comforting'...and that was the very first thing that I knew I was going to keep. And I've probably listened to it, like, ten thousand times, maybe more."

 — Robinson in a video to fans[4]

Some time after the release of his Worlds album, Robinson had a creative struggle and went through a depressive episode which lasted for a few years.[5] During this period, Robinson began working on songs from Nurture, including "Something Comforting". He started the song by writing the instrumental hook, which he got attached to and listened to repeatedly. This beginning marked the start of his work on the Nurture album.[6] However, he didn't finish writing the lyrics until 2019, when he had already written ten other songs.[7]

The song features Robinson's natural voice, along with a version of his own voice that is modified to be higher and more feminine.[4][5][8] The song switches between the two voices, notably at the end, where the voice used frequently alternates.[8] The lyrics are about his feelings from 2015.[7]

Release

Robinson stated that he initially wanted "Something Comforting" to be the first track from Nurture to be released, though "Get Your Wish" ultimately became the first release.[4] "Something Comforting" was released on March 10, 2020.

Nine days after the release of "Something Comforting", the site nurtu.re was launched, featuring virtual playgrounds for the Nurture singles.[9][10]

Music video

On March 25, 2020, fifteen days after the single was first released, the music video for "Something Comforting" was released.

Similar to the video for "Get Your Wish", the video features Robinson and is set on a platform with a flat background. The platform has a forest theme, with features such as grass and rocks.[11] Throughout the video, he can be seen performing certain actions, such as planting seeds.[12] At the climax, Robinson can be seen stepping off the platform,[13] which results in him floating in the air. In an interview with Peter Robinson from Popjustice, Robinson stated that the video is meant to represent the struggle of being stuck in his studio, and the darkness surrounding the platform represents "the uncertainty of life outside your routines."[13]

Critical reception

Ben Jolley of NME described "Something Comforting" and "Look at the Sky" as "two of the most uplifting yet tear-jerking songs you're likely to hear [in 2021]."[14] In a review of Nurture for Slant, Charles Lyons-Burt described the song as having "ricocheting drum n' bass" and wrote that songs such as "Something Comforting" and "Mirror" "add a glitchy dynamism to potentially overwrought inspirational songs [on Nurture]."[2] "Something Comforting" and "Get Your Wish" were described as "euphoric pop songs" by Pitchfork's Colin Joyce.[15] In an article for Paper, Matt Meon described "Something Comforting" as "[Nurture]'s soaring climax."[16]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.

  • Porter Robinson - producer, composer, lyricist, mixer
  • Zino Mikorey - engineer
  • Tom Norris - mixer

Charts
Chart (2020) Peak
position
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[17] 12

Release history
Version Region Date Format(s) Label
Original Various March 10, 2020
Mom + Pop
Music video March 25, 2020 Streaming

References
  1. Moen, Matt (January 27, 2021). "Porter Robinson Finds Hope in New Single 'Look at the Sky'". Paper. Retrieved November 23, 2021. "Look at the Sky" carries on in the same lo-fi electro pop established in the first three singles...
  2. Lyons-Burt, Charles. "Porter Robinson's Nurture Revels in a Constant State of Change". Slant. Retrieved July 4, 2021. On the other hand, the kinetic drum patterns on "Mirror" and the ricocheting drum n' bass of "Something Comforting" add a glitchy dynamism to potentially overwrought inspirational songs.
  3. Bein, Kat (2020-03-13). "First Spin: The Week's Best New Dance Tracks From Porter Robinson, Loud Luxury, Breakbot & More". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-09-20.
  4. Robinson, Porter [@porterrobinson] (March 10, 2020). "about 'Something Comforting':" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. Walker, Sophie (2020-08-27). "Porter Robinson: Ego Death". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
  6. "Porter Robinson - "Something Comforting"". Stereogum. 2020-03-10. Retrieved 2020-09-20.
  7. Steeves, Audrey (2020-09-09). "Interview: Beautiful Things and What They Mean to Porter Robinson". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 2020-09-20.
  8. Walker, Sophie. "Collecting the fragments of an identity shattered, Nurture sees Porter Robinson rebuilding himself". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
  9. @active_theory (March 19, 2020). "We worked with @porterrobinson to launch nurtu.re, an immersive multiplayer experience featuring environments inspired by singles from his upcoming album. More coming soon #webgl" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  10. Evenson, Austin (2020-03-20). "Porter Robinson launches virtual listening experience for 'Nurture'". Dancing Astronaut. Retrieved 2020-09-20.
  11. Darville, Jordan (2020-03-25). "Porter Robinson hosts a tearjerking gardening session in the "Something Comforting" video". The FADER. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  12. Watson, Harrison (2020-03-29). "Porter Robinson drops touching new video for latest track 'Something Comforting'". We Rave You. Retrieved 2020-09-20.
  13. Robinson, Peter (2020-03-25). "Porter Robinson interview: "My greatest desire is to feel understood" • Popjustice". Popjustice. Retrieved 2020-09-20.
  14. Jolley, Ben. "Porter Robinson – 'Nurture' review: dance don trades bombast for blissed-out beats". NME. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  15. Joyce, Colin (April 29, 2021). "Porter Robinson: Nurture Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  16. Moen, Matt (August 24, 2021). "Let Porter Robinson 'Nurture' You". Paper. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  17. "Porter Robinson Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
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