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Gotye

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Wally De Backer/Gotye
Wally De Backer (as Gotye) performing at the Wollongong Botanical Gardens in March 2008
Wally De Backer (as Gotye) performing at the Wollongong Botanical Gardens in March 2008
Background information
Birth nameWouter De Backer
OriginBelgium
GenresIndie rock, experimental rock
Years active2001–present
LabelsIndependent, Samples 'n' Seconds, Inertia, Lucky Number, Eleven
Websitehttp://www.gotye.com

Gotye (pronounced 'gore-ti-yeah') is the recording name of Australian multi-instrumental musician Wouter De Backer (born 21 May 1980, in Bruges, Belgium), also known as Walter (or Wally) De Backer.

Best known for his number 1 Australian single "Somebody That I Used to Know" from his album Making Mirrors as well as his previous album Like Drawing Blood, which was voted as the 11th Triple J Hottest 100 Australian Album of All Time,[1] De Backer is an ARIA Award-winning singer-songwriter. As Gotye, he has released three studio albums independently and one remix album featuring remixes of tracks from his first two albums. He is also one-third of Melbourne indie-pop band The Basics, who have independently released three studio albums and numerous other titles since 2002.

Biography

Early life and musical projects

Born in Belgium in 1980, De Backer moved to Australia with his family at a young age. His parents chose to use the English variation of his name, Walter, when enrolling him in school. From early on, De Backer displayed a passion for music, learning various instruments, piano and drums most notably. In his teens, De Backer formed the band Downstares[2] with three of his high school friends, including Lucas Taranto who still plays in his Gotye live shows today.[3] Downstares played shows mainly in the North-Eastern suburbs of Melbourne and were noted for their song-writing maturity and assured live performances. De Backer was the creative force behind the group, and their music reflected his diverse musical tastes, with Depeche Mode and Kate Bush among his favourite artists. De Backer graduated from Parade College in 1998 and was accepted to study Arts/Law at Melbourne University, and a Diploma in Modern Languages (Japanese). He would later discontinue the Law degree and Japanese studies, and complete a Bachelor of Arts, studying mainly cultural studies.

After high school, the members of Downstares went their separate ways, leaving De Backer with no musical outlet. When De Backer's parents moved house in 2001, they left De Backer the family house in Montmorency[4] so he could continue his studies. Two friends moved in with him and the house became affectionately known as 'The Frat House'[5] where friends would regularly drop by and hang out. The first seeds of Gotye were planted when De Backer was given a large collection of old records - an elderly neighbour, whose wife had passed away, had heard Downstares rehearsing over the years and gave his late wife's LP collection to De Backer.[6] As explained by De Backer in a 2010 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.”

Boardface (2001–2004)

In 2001, De Backer recorded his first tracks primarily using samples. He put together a four track CD which included the song 'Out Here in the Cold'.[7] De Backer made around fifty copies of this first collection, hand writing the track list and colouring in the cover sleeve in pencil. He drew on his cultural history for inspiration when naming his new project - Wouter translates into French as Gaultier (or Gautier or Gauthier) and De Backer's mother used to call him Gaultier as a pet name. He chose his own spelling of this variation and named the project 'Gotye'. De Backer sent the CDs out to every radio station and recording industry contact he could find in the phone book, then followed each up with phone calls to ensure they were delivered. Feedback on the first release was mainly positive, with Melbourne street press and Australian youth radio station Triple J taking notice.[8] This gave De Backer the confidence to continue on with further sample based recordings.

Around this time, De Backer met fellow singer-songwriter Kris Schroeder at a party in Mt. Eliza, and the two began performing together under the name The Basics. The duo formed an enduring songwriting and performing partnership and became regulars on the live music scene, giving De Backer an outlet for his passion for live performance. The Basics have continued to tour and record alongside Gotye, releasing four albums between 2004 and 2010.

De Backer went on to produce two more four track Gotye collections which were met with positive reviews, with several tracks getting onto the rotation at Triple J. The CDs were made in the same style as the first, with De Backer hand crafting each one and tenaciously chasing up every opportunity to get an audience for his work. Interest in the Gotye project was growing, and De Backer was eventually offered a distribution deal for an album, which would essentially be a collection of the tracks from his three earlier releases. This album was released under the name Boardface in late 2003.

Like Drawing Blood (2006–2009)

In 2004, De Backer's parents opted to sell The Frat House and De Backer moved into a shared house in the South East of Melbourne. He took up work at a local library, while continuing to perform with The Basics and record his own Gotye tracks. Over the next few years, De Backer would move house several times, each time shifting his home recording studio to a new location with new acoustic qualities. The culmination of this was the second Gotye album, Like Drawing Blood - named in reference to the difficulties De Backer experienced in recording his music in ever-changing environments.[9]

Like Drawing Blood was featured by Triple J in May 2006[10] and was voted Number 1 in the listeners poll of the Best Album of 2006.[11] The album was also nominated for a J Award that year.[12] Two tracks from that album, "Learnalilgivinanlovin" and "Heart's a Mess", were ranked 94 and 8 respectively in Triple J's Hottest 100 for 2006.[13] Like Drawing Blood has been certified Gold for sales of over 35,000 copies. His first single, "Learnalilgivinanlovin", was released in August 2006.

In September 2006, Gotye was nominated for an ARIA Award for best independent release for the album Like Drawing Blood.[14] Also in 2006 Gotye won 'Most Outstanding New Independent Artist' at the inaugural Australian Independent Record (AIR) Chart Awards[15] and Like Drawing Blood was amongst nine shortlisted finalists in the 2006 Australian Music Prize.[16]

In 2007, De Backer won the ARIA for best male artist. As a result of the publicity of the nomination, Like Drawing Blood re-entered the ARIA albums chart at #36, surpassing the previous peak of #39. Also, Mixed Blood debuted on the ARIA albums chart at #44. Both of these entries came the first week after the ARIA Awards. In 2009, "Heart's a Mess" came in at #77 in Triple J's Hottest 100 of All Time, voted by the Australian public.[17]

In 2011, Like Drawing Blood came in at #11 in Triple J's Hottest 100 Australian Albums of All Time.[18]

Making Mirrors (2010–present)

After the success of Like Drawing Blood, De Backer was able to establish a permanent home, still in Melbourne's South East. In 2010, De Backer set up a recording studio in a barn at his parents' farm and set about recording tracks for his third album. He released a new single, "Eyes Wide Open", in mid-October 2010, online and on 10" vinyl. The "Eyes Wide Open" single received generally positive reviews and reached number 25 in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2010.[19] "Eyes Wide Open" was also shortlisted for the 2011 APRA Music Awards in the Song of the Year category.[20]

In late March 2010, De Backer revealed the album's title to be Making Mirrors. This title was inspired by an artwork, painted by De Backer's father in the 1980s, discovered by De Backer amongst old bills and newspapers in his parents' barn, which was later edited in Photoshop to become the album artwork. "The mirror reflects on artwork and it is all very related to self-reflection and introspection on the album."[21] De Backer also revealed the album would see a release in June or July 2011, with a single to precede the release.[21] De Backer also stated that the album would be similar to its predecessor in terms of diversity.[21]

In late April 2011, Gotye was announced as one of the acts at the annual Groovin' the Moo Music Festival alongside other Australian artists like Birds of Tokyo, Washington, Art Vs Science and Architecture in Helsinki.[22]

Gotye was announced to be joining Coldplay, Kanye West, Jane's Addiction, Mogwai and more at the 2011 Splendour in the Grass music festival.[23]

On 19 May, it was announced that the album would be released on 19 August 2011, with the album launch the following day at the Sydney Opera House as part of the Graphic Festival which will feature animators and a 10-piece orchestra as part of Gotye's performance.[24] De Backer also released a follow-up single to "Eyes Wide Open" titled "Somebody That I Used to Know", which was released 6 July 2011,[24] and debuted at #27 on the ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart.[25]. The single has reached Platinum (70,000 units sold) status and peaked at number one on the ARIA Singles Chart.

On 15 July 2011, it was announced that Gotye's single "Somebody That I Used to Know" had come third in the 2011 Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition.[26] As part of the prize, Gotye won a spot to perform at Song Summit 2012 at Darling Harbour, 26 – 28 May 2012.

On 21 July 2011, it was announced that Gotye would be performing at the 16th Homebake festival on 3 December 2011 at Sydney's Domain.[27]

Discography

Studio albums

Album Title Album details Peak chart positions
AUS
[28]
Boardface 93[29]
Like Drawing Blood 19
Making Mirrors —

Other albums

Album Title Album details Peak chart positions
AUS
Mixed Blood 64[30]

EPs

  • Heart's a Mess remix EP (2009)

Singles

Year Title Peak chart
positions 		Certifications
(thresholds) 		Album
AUS
[28] 		BEL (FLA) NL
2006 "Learnalilgivinanlovin" — 60 — Like Drawing Blood
2007 "Hearts a Mess" — 53 —
2010 "Eyes Wide Open" 55 — — Making Mirrors
2011 "Somebody That I Used to Know"
(featuring Kimbra) 		1 7 2
  • AUS: Platinum

Soundtracks

  • Whip It: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2009) – "Learnalilgivinanlovin"
  • Going the Distance: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2010) – "Learnalilgivinanlovin"

References

  1. ^ http://www.voxy.co.nz/entertainment/gotye-returns-new-album/5/97223
  2. ^ "iTunes biography - Gotye". Apple Pty Ltd. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  3. ^ "Beat Magazine interview - January 2011". Beat Magazine. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  4. ^ "60Sox interview - August 2008". 60Sox. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  5. ^ "Early Gotye bio listed on ManiaC music blog". Blogger. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  6. ^ "Interview with BBC One News Beat - August 2008". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  7. ^ "'Out Here in the Cold' film clip". YouTube.com. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  8. ^ "Triple J's 'Home and Hosed' - playlist, 1/3/2004". abc.net.au. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  9. ^ "Amazon listing for 'Like Drawing Blood'". Amazon.com. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  10. ^ "Triple J Feature Album - 'Like Drawing Blood'". Abc.net.au. 19 May 2006. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  11. ^ Triple J 2006 Best Album audience poll[dead link]
  12. ^ "J Award Nomination". Abc.net.au. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  13. ^ "Triple J Hottest 100 - 2006". Triplej.abc.net.au. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  14. ^ Soap. "2006 Aria Nominees". Ariaawards.com.au. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  15. ^ "2006 AIR Chart Awards". Air.org.au. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  16. ^ 8 September 2010 (8 September 2010). "AMP 2006 Nominees". Australianmusicprize.com.au. Retrieved 27 September 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ "Hottest 100 Of All Time 71-80". Abc.net.au. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  18. ^ "Triple J Hottest 100 Albums Of All Time". Abc.net.au. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  19. ^ "Gotye's Mirrored Vision". Bendigo Advertiser. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
  20. ^ "APRA reveals song of the year contenders, award details". The Music Network. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
  21. ^ a b c "Gotye's Mirrored Vision". Bendigo Advertiser. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  22. ^ "Birds of Tokyo & Gotye to play Groovin' The Moo". Valleyarm. 4 April 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  23. ^ Nieva, Selenna (14 April 2011). "Gotye to play at Splendour in the Grass!". Valleyarm. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  24. ^ a b http://www.undercover.fm/news/14797-gotye-debuts-new-album-at-the-opera-house
  25. ^ http://www.themusicnetwork.com/music-news/industry/2011/07/18/chart-wrap-up-christina-perris-strong-debut/
  26. ^ "2011 Vanda and Young Songwriting Competition - Winners Announcement". APRA-AMCOS. 15 July 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  27. ^ "Announcement of 2011 Homebake line-up". Triple J. 21 July 2011. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help); Text "http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/musicnews/s3274276.htm" ignored (help)
  28. ^ a b "Discography Gotye". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 July 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  29. ^ "Chartifacts - Week Commencing: 15th August 2011". Australian Recording Industry Association. 15 August 2011. Archived from the original on 18 August 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  30. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 30 July 2007" (PDF) (908). Pandora Archive. 20 August 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2011. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)


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