Gotye, born Wouter De Backer, is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and record producer from Australia. He is best known for his 2011 single “Somebody That I Used to Know”, which topped the charts in more than 10 countries and earned him the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 2012. His music is a unique blend of electronica, pop, and folk, and he has won numerous awards for his work. In this article, we will explore Gotye’s early life, musical career, and international success.
Early Life
Gotye was born in Bruges, Belgium in 1980 and moved to Australia at the age of two. He grew up in a musical family and began playing instruments at a young age. He learned to play the guitar, drums, and keyboards, and started writing his own songs. He also sang in choirs and studied jazz drumming and music theory. After high school, Gotye attended the University of Melbourne to study fine arts, but dropped out after two years.
Musical Career
Gotye started his musical career in 2001 when he formed the indie-pop band Downstares. He wrote and sang lead vocals on their album Boardface, which was released in 2003. He then went on to form the band The Basics in 2006, which released two albums. In 2005, Gotye released his debut solo album, Like Drawing Blood, which was well-received in Australia and Europe. He released his second album, Making Mirrors, in 2011. The album’s single “Somebody That I Used to Know” became an international hit and propelled Gotye to international success.
International Success
Gotye’s single “Somebody That I Used to Know” topped the charts in more than 10 countries and earned him the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 2012. The song has sold over 13 million copies worldwide and was certified Diamond in the United States. Gotye also won the ARIA Music Award for Song of the Year and the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Australian Act. His album Making Mirrors was certified Triple Platinum in Australia and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
Gotye has achieved remarkable success with his unique blend of electronica, pop, and folk music. His single “Somebody That I Used to Know” topped the charts in more than 10 countries and earned him numerous awards, including the Grammy Award for Record of the Year. Gotye is an award-winning artist who continues to make music that resonates with people around the world.