Gotye’s disappearance is weirder than you thought

Summary

The video script narrates the intriguing journey of Gotye, a musician who rose to global fame with his song 'Somebody That I Used to Know,' which was crafted from samples and personal experiences. The song's success was unexpected, yet it won numerous awards and reached number one in 23 countries. Despite the massive success, Gotye, whose real name is Wally de Backer, chose not to continue with his solo project. Instead, he returned to his band, The Basics, preferring authenticity and personal connection over the pressures of fame. The video also highlights the use of sampling in music creation and the challenges faced by Gotye during his creative process, including moving between different living spaces and jobs. Gotye's story is a testament to the power of staying true to one's artistic vision, even in the face of commercial success.

Takeaways

• 🏠 Gotye, whose real name is Walter Brucciani Fellas, started his music career from his parents' home, which was a significant influence on his early work.
• 🎼 He is known for his clever use of sampling, taking extracts from existing songs and manipulating them to create original music.
• 🎹 Gotye is influenced by a diverse range of artists, including Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, and Depeche Mode, which contributes to his unique sound.
• 🎨 Gotye's creative process involves not only music but also visual elements, such as hand-drawing track lists for his debut EP.
• 💿 His first distribution deal came after self-releasing singles and demo EPs, leading to the compilation of his debut album 'Boardface'.
• 🏆 The album 'Like Drawing Blood' was named after the difficulty Gotye faced while creating it and marked a shift in his creative process due to personal changes.
• 🏢 Gotye's success with 'Like Drawing Blood' provided him with financial freedom and the establishment of a permanent home studio.
• 🌐 The song 'Somebody That I Used to Know' became a global hit, reaching number one in 23 countries and winning multiple awards.
• 🎧 The song's success was partly due to its unique sound, which did not consciously aim to fit the current pop music mold.
• 📈 Gotye's decision to turn down millions of dollars and announce no more new music under his stage name reflects his commitment to authenticity over fame.
• 🎶 Despite the massive success of 'Somebody That I Used to Know,' Gotye has continued to make music with his band 'The Basics,' preferring a more personal and sustainable approach to his craft.

Q & A

What was the significance of the song 'Somebody That I Used to Know' for Gotye's career?

The song 'Somebody That I Used to Know' was a global success for Gotye, reaching number one in 23 countries, winning six ARIA Awards and two Grammys, and marking him as a worldwide phenomenon.

How did Gotye's early music-making process involve sampling?

Gotye used sampling extensively in his early music-making process, cleverly weaving it together with songwriting. He would take extracts from already existing songs, manipulate them, and create something original from these samples.

What was the inspiration behind the name of Gotye's second album, 'Like Drawing Blood'?

The name 'Like Drawing Blood' is a reference to the difficulty Gotye faced while making the album, reflecting the challenging experience of creating the music during a time of instability and frequent moves.

How did Gotye's personal circumstances influence the sound and content of his second album?

Gotye's personal circumstances, such as moving between shared houses and working different jobs, influenced the sound and content of his second album by reflecting these experiences and the sounds he encountered during this period.

What was unique about Gotye's approach to music production?

Gotye's approach to music production was unique in that he preferred a do-it-yourself method, hand-drawing track lists for his debut EP, and using a homemade studio. He also embraced limitations and used them as a source of creativity.

Why did Gotye turn down millions of dollars from the success of 'Somebody That I Used to Know'?

Gotye turned down millions of dollars because he chose to keep the ads off the music video on YouTube and gave away a significant portion of the earnings due to the use of samples in his music. His focus was on authenticity rather than commercial success.

Why did Gotye decide not to release new music under his stage name after the success of 'Somebody That I Used to Know'?

Gotye, whose real name is Wally De Backer, decided not to release new music under his stage name because he sought to maintain his authenticity and personal connection with his music. He returned to his other musical project, the band The Basics, instead.

What was the creative process behind the song 'Somebody That I Used to Know'?

The song was crafted from a selection of samples, with the opening guitar riff coming from Louis Bon's instrumental 'Seville'. Gotye was inspired by the hypnotic pull of the guitar riff and developed a reflective, melancholy verse in response. The song also features a dialogue between Gotye and Kimbra, representing two perspectives of a breakup.

How did the success of 'Somebody That I Used to Know' impact Gotye's life and career?

The song's success made Gotye a global phenomenon, but he found that the level of fame and the scale of success were not personally sustainable or inspiring. He chose to step back from the limelight and focus on his other musical interests.

What was Gotye's attitude towards the commercial success and fame that came with 'Somebody That I Used to Know'?

Gotye was surprised by the song's crossover success into pop music and the widespread connection people had with it. However, he expressed a sense that when things get too big, it becomes hard to keep the personal connection and authenticity in music, which was more important to him.

How did Gotye's use of samples in his music affect his earnings from 'Somebody That I Used to Know'?

Gotye's use of samples in his music meant that he had to give away 45% of the earnings from 'Somebody That I Used to Know'. Additionally, he chose to turn off the ads on the YouTube video, which further limited his financial gain from the song's success.

What is Gotye's current stance on releasing new music?

As of the information provided in the transcript, Gotye has officially announced that there will be no more new music released under his stage name. However, he has been active with his band The Basics, indicating that he continues to engage with music-making.