Go-tee-yay! That’s how you pronounce the name of new Belgian-Australian sensation, Gotye. The singer, who sounds like a combination of Robert Plant and Bono from U2, whispers in low drones before hitting Journey-meets-Ozzy Osbourne wails. Gotye has been at number 1 on Most Requested on TNL for weeks, until recently upstaged by sexy dance anthem from Dev and Enrique Iglesius, Naked.
The song, Somebody I Used To Know, is the second release from the singer’s internationally successful album Making Mirrors. The song has been certified platinum 8 times and allowed Gotye to share with Silverchair, the feat of being the only artist to have the number one song and the number one album at the same time on the Australian Recording Industry Charts. The song features female vocals from New Zealand singer, Kimbra.
Wouter ‘Wally’ de Backer, as Gotye was born as, began his music composing career by sampling Culture Club and The Police and debating whether a drummer could make a solo career for himself (erm, ever heard of Phil Collins?), and listening to LPs his neighbor’s late wife once owned. His unique vocals can be compared to the likes of Ozzy Osbourne and Robert Plant, while his style of music clearly derives influence from the likes of Depeche Mode-like electronic pop.
He was the drummer in a high school band, Downstares, before the band grew up and went on their way to life after. And while Gotye remained depressed about his band, a friendly neighbor pops by one day and gives his late wife’s LP collection to Gotye. Eventually Gotye starts listening to Culture Club and The Police, and sampling tracks. Gotye said in a recent interview,” I was depressed about the band and desperate to make music, but I didn't see how a drummer could go solo. A friend came round, saw the records and suggested I try sampling them. To cheer myself up, I spent the evening sampling bits of The Police and Culture Club. It sounded horrible, but something sparked in me, so for the next few weeks I persevered. By the time I had finished one semi-decent song, I was hooked."
Gotye eventually mustered up the courage to go solo and put down his sticks long enough, to write in the track lists and colour in pencil the sleeves of 50 CDs of music he made, and post it to every radio station and person he thought could bring his music to the public.
Gotye’s independent releases won much recognition in Australia, before he became internationally famous with the release of singles taken off his most recent album Making Mirrors.