Gotye, originally named Wouter De Backer, is a talented songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist who captured the attention of global audiences in 2011 with his hit single ‘Someone I Used to Know’. Born in Bruges, Belgium on May 21, 1980, Wouter moved to Australia at a young age and settled in Sydney before later moving to Melbourne. Starting his musical journey in high school, Wouter formed his first band, Downstares, showcasing his skills on keyboards and drums. Transitioning to his artistic persona, Gotye released his debut EP, ‘Out Here in the Cold’, in 2001, which marked the beginning of his musical career.
As Gotye gained recognition with his EP, he also collaborated with Kris Schroeder to form the band ‘the Basics’, releasing their album ‘Get Back’ in 2003. Balancing his solo career as Gotye and his work with ‘the Basics’, Wouter’s versatility and creativity shone through his music. His second album ‘Like Drawing Blood’ in 2006 received critical acclaim and commercial success in Australia, setting the stage for his groundbreaking third album ‘Making Mirrors’ in 2011. The album’s lead single, ‘Eyes Wide Open’, and the chart-topping duet ‘Someone That I Used to Know’ with Kimbra catapulted Gotye to international fame, earning him a Grammy Award for Song of the Year.
Following the success of ‘Making Mirrors’, Gotye collaborated with ‘the Basics’ on ‘The Age of Entitlement’ in 2015 and embarked on a new venture, the Ondioline Orchestra, paying homage to electronic music pioneer Jean-Jacques Perrey. In 2017, Gotye established the record label ‘Forgotten Futures’ and announced a forthcoming release featuring rare recordings of Jean-Jacques Perrey. Gotye’s musical journey reflects his dedication to innovation and his ability to connect with audiences worldwide.