Gotye
Gotye
Wouter Andre "Wally" De Backer, better known as Gotye, is an Australian-Belgian multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter. The name "Gotye" is a pronunciation respelling of "Gauthier", the French cognate of Gotye's given Dutch name "Wouter"...
NationalityBelgian
ProfessionMusician
Date of Birth21 May 1980
CountryBelgium
bit constant fairly female life months november quickly realize six struggle took written wrote
'Somebody That I Used to Know,' like a lot of the record, was a bit of a struggle to finish. It was written fairly quickly - I wrote it in November 2010 - but it took six months to find Kimbra and really realize she was the right vocalist to make the female part come to life. There were constant hurdles.
album close element far older relationship song songs sounds
This 'Making Mirrors' album is far more personal, even if there's a character element to the sounds I'm working with. Every song on this album I stand behind; I feel like I have a close relationship with them. There are older songs where I can feel myself writing a story, so this is the first album where I'm proud of every lyric.'
condense cool disappear explore hole months rabbit record took trying
I have this desire to just while away weeks, months and years. It took me two years to make this record but that was with me trying to condense my process and not disappear down the rabbit hole with all the cool things I've collected. I could take 10 years and not explore everything I want to with these instruments.
bat clearly crash driving guess home ordered quite regular remember shooting sure
I quite clearly remember driving home at 9 a.m., after shooting all day, in a bathrobe, with bodypaint all over my face, and going through McDonald's drive-thru. I ordered a coffee to make sure I didn't crash on the way home. And the girl working there, she didn't even bat an eyelid. I guess it's a regular thing down in Hastings McDonald's.
thinking people littles
I'm open to whatever. I think sometimes when people collaborate these days, it's a little bit convenient.
rocks voice covering
When I started covering The Beatles and The Rolling Stones in a rock 'n' roll band, it helped me realize that my natural voice is actually really high. It helped me find my voice.
eye concerts music-is
Often times at a concert, I just close my eyes. Music is very transportive and visual for me like that.
mind world music-is
I could quite happily just make music because it conjures up a whole visual world for me in my mind.
dad records young
All the records I've put out have had either artwork that I did while I was young or something that my Dad painted.
thinking discovery brain
A big part of making music is the discovery aspect, is the surprise aspect. That's why I think I'll always love sampling. Because it involves combining the music fandom: collecting, searching, discovering music history, and artifacts of recording that you may not have known existed and you just kind of unlock parts of your brain, you know?
song lucky done
I've been very lucky to work with many amazing animators and directors who can interpret and extend the music I make. When it's done well, it can create extra meaning and new context for the song.
country song people
I do get a bit of a sense, just from e-mails some people send me, just a little sense of how people in different countries seem to respond differently to certain lines in a song.
numbers records
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number...
sadness kind certain
You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness, Like resignation to the end, Always the end.