Social Links
- Instagram: @comfortcatmusic
- Facebook: @comfortcatmusic
- Bandcamp: comfortcat.bandcamp.com
- YouTube: YouTube Channel
- Patreon: patreon.com/comfortcat
- Twitter: @comfortcatmusic
Short Bio
Comfort Cat is an NYC-based singer songwriter, backed by Jason Laney on Keys and Dan Veksler on bass/guitar. She has received two grants from Staten Island Arts for recorded music, and is supported by a Patreon community. She is also a teaching artist and violin instructor in Greater NYC. Their latest album is meow (released November 2022) – click here to listen to it on your preferred service. A zine version of meow is also available on Bandcamp.
Band Members
- Comfort Cat – Lead Vocals, Ukulele, Violin
- Jason Laney – Keys, Backing Vocals, Percussion
- Dan Veksler – Bass, Guitar
Previous Releases
Consumption (2021)
Long Bio
Comfort Cat created her name around 2014 when she realized how much she hated her former name. As a songwriter, Comfort Cat primarily performs with a guitarlele, a six-stringed instrument with the same intervals as a guitar but tuned up by a perfect fourth. Her main instrument is actually the violin.
Comfort Cat’s voice has been compared to Karen O, PJ Harvey, Björk, John Lennon, Kate Bush, Janis Joplin, Tiny Tim, and others. It has also been described as genderless, neither female nor male, but simply human.
Music is Cat’s preferred avenue of communication, because it is the best way she has ever felt listened to. You can’t argue with a song. It has no feelings to hurt, while simultaneously being a luxury vessel for them. A song does not feel interrupted. It won’t lose its train of thought. It will be there when you need it.
If you’ve ever felt thoroughly inappropriate, like you somehow “chose evil” without even realizing it, you might enjoy Comfort Cat’s music.
Comfort Cat’s present lineup consists of Cat as frontperson, Jason Laney on keys, and Dan Veksler on bass/guitar. She’s known Jason since 2011 and Dan since about 2018. In between, she adopted a little gray cat named Jack in 2017, an occasional guest vocalist and official muse of the band.
Comfort Cat’s prior members continue to be friends with the band, including jenno snyder and Thomas Bones. Comfort Cat has also collaborated with electronic musician Caleb Lowrey on the track, The N.P.C. Comfort Cat’s latest album, meow, includes talent from Darrell Smith, Steph Federico, Chris Sauter, and Billy Senko.
Comfort Cat is also a teaching artist and violin instructor in the Greater NYC area.
Shows & Accomplishments
In 2020, Comfort Cat was awarded a $3,000 DCA Premier Grant from Staten Island Arts, with public funding from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, to fund their album, Consumption. They have also been awarded a 2021 $5,000 Arts Fund Grant from SI Arts for their upcoming album, meow, to be released in summer of 2022.
NYC venues: The Bitter End (2019), Connolly’s (July 2019), The Well (April 2019), Legion Bar (March 2018), The Tiny Cupboard (October 2019) Otto’s Shrunken Head (December 2018), Little Skips (May 2019), Niagara (August 2018)
Staten Island venues: O’Henry’s Public House, The CANVAS Institute (February 2020), Every Thing Goes Book Cafe (January 2020), Mother Pug’s Saloon (July 2019), Amendment 18 (May 2019), Art on the Terrace (May 2018), Hub 17 (July 2018), Craft House (June 2018).
Comfort Cat & Friends has also featured at the 2019 Kingston Antifolk Festival on 9/21/19.
