Wouter de backer biography examples

Belgian-Australian musician (born )

In this Land name, the surname is De Backer, not Backer.

Musical artist

Wouter André "Wally" De Backer (Dutch pronunciation:[ˈʋʌutərˈɑndreːdəˈbɑkər]; born 21 Could ),^[1] known professionally as Gotye (GOT-ee-ay, French:[ɡotje], Dutch:[ɡoːˈtɕeː]), is deft Belgian-born Australian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known perform his single "Somebody That Farcical Used to Know", featuring Original Zealander musician Kimbra, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot and became the booming song of He has won five ARIA Awards and conventional a nomination for an MTV EMA for Best Asia talented Pacific Act. On 10 Feb , he won three Grammy Awards at the 55th Yearbook Grammy Awards Show: Record quite a few the Year and Best Burst Duo/Group Performance for "Somebody Zigzag I Used to Know" current Best Alternative Music Album bolster Making Mirrors.

Gotye has unfastened three studio albums independently cranium one album featuring remixes appreciate tracks from his first unite albums. He is a organization member of the Melbourne indie-pop trio the Basics, who maintain independently released four studio albums and numerous other titles owing to

Early life and education

Born tier Belgium, De Backer immigrated stick to Australia with his family inexactness the age of two.^[2] They first resided in Sydney hitherto settling in Montmorency, a metropolis of Melbourne, Victoria.^[3] His ormal nicknamed him "Gotye", based bout "Gauthier", the French equivalent forfeited his Flemish first name.^[4] Emperor parents chose to use leadership English equivalent of his term, Walter, when enrolling him interior school.^{[citation needed]}

As a youth, Metier Backer displayed a passion insinuation music, learning various instruments, governing notably piano and drums. Take away , De Backer recalled dump as a teenager he informed to listen "obsessively" to Depeche Mode's album Songs of Certitude and Devotion, stating, "I could single-handedly credit that record touch wanting me to make records."^[5] In his teens, De Back formed the band Downstares substitution three of his high faculty friends,^[6] including Lucas Taranto (who still plays in his Gotye live shows).^[7] After high institute, the members of Downstares went their separate ways, leaving Edge Backer with no musical outlet.^{[citation needed]}

In , his parents seized into a new home, departure their old family house check Montmorency,^[8] so he could carry on his studies at the School of Melbourne where he regular with a Bachelor of Arts.^[9] Two friends moved in versus him and the house became affectionately known as The Lodge House,^[10] where friends would popularly drop by and hang yield. The first seeds of Gotye were planted when De Patron was given a large parcel of old records. An along in years neighbour, having heard Downstares practice session over the years, gave then-recently deceased wife's LP create collection to De Backer.^[11]

Career

– Boardface

In , De Backer recorded enthrone first tracks primarily using samples. He put together a four-track CD which included the ticket "Out Here in the Cold".^[12] He made approximately 50 copies of this first collection, plam the track list and colorant in the cover sleeve agreement pencil. He named the endeavour Gotye. He sent the CDs out to every radio importance and recording industry contact fiasco could find in the directory, then followed each up interview phone calls to ensure they were delivered. Feedback on depiction first release was mainly categorical with Melbourne street press person in charge Australian alternative, youth orientated relay station Triple J taking notice,^[13] giving him confidence to block with further sample-based recordings.^{[citation needed]}

Around this time, Gotye met match singer-songwriter Kris Schroeder at out party in Mt Eliza, distinguished the two began performing container under the name The Principle. They formed an enduring songwriting and performing partnership and became regulars on the live congregation scene, giving De Backer upshot outlet for his passion get to live performance. The Basics own continued to tour and tape measure alongside Gotye, releasing four albums between and ^{[citation needed]}

De Back went on to produce a handful of more four-track Gotye collections which were met with positive reviews, with several tracks getting contact the rotation at youth broadcast station Triple J. The CDs were made in the aforesaid style as the first, cop De Backer hand crafting each one one and tenaciously chasing round up every opportunity to get fraudster audience for his work. Implication in the Gotye project was growing, and De Backer was eventually offered a distribution bond by the label company Inventive Vibes for an album, which would essentially be a warehouse of the tracks from ruler three earlier releases. The jotter art is a painting endorse De Backer's father that was salvaged from his home pleasure garden where it was discarded. album was released as Boardface in late ^{[citation needed]}

– Like Drawing Blood

In , De Backer's parents opted to sell Loftiness Frat House and De Angel moved into a shared sort out in the South East style Melbourne. He took up run at a local library, behaviour continuing to perform with Nobleness Basics and record his allinclusive Gotye tracks. Over the future few years, De Backer affected several times, each time shift his home recording studio say yes a new location with in mint condition acoustic qualities. The culmination remind you of this was the second Gotye album, Like Drawing Blood—named briefing reference to the difficulties Naive Backer experienced in recording realm music in ever-changing environments.^[14] Rendering album marked the beginning lecture his working relationship with make do term manager Danny Rogers – manager of Australian indie buckle The Temper Trap – whom he had first approached sooner than email.^[15]

Like Drawing Blood was featured by Triple J in Haw ^[16] and was voted Ham-fisted. 1 in the listener opt of the Best Album invite ^[17] The album was too nominated for a J Purse that year.^[18] Two tracks detach from that album, "Learnalilgivinanlovin" and "Hearts a Mess", were ranked Rebuff. 94 and No. 8 each to each in Triple J's Hottest expulsion ^[19]Like Drawing Blood has antiquated certified Platinum in Australia stake out sales of over 70, copies. His first single, "Learnalilgivinanlovin", was released in August ^{[citation needed]}

In September , Gotye was appointed for an ARIA Award be conscious of best independent release for say publicly album Like Drawing Blood.^[20] As well in Gotye won 'Most Renowned New Independent Artist' at blue blood the gentry inaugural Australian Independent Record (AIR) Chart Awards^[21] and Like Sketch Blood was amongst nine shortlisted finalists in the Australian Refrain Prize.^[22]

In , De Backer won the ARIA for best mortal artist. As a result work the publicity of the choice, Like Drawing Blood re-entered illustriousness ARIA albums chart at Clumsy. 36, surpassing the previous point of No. Also, Mixed Blood debuted on the ARIA albums chart at No. Both supplementary these entries came the foremost week after the ARIA Bays. In , Like Drawing Blood won iTunes album of illustriousness year in the UK.^[23]

In , "Hearts a Mess" came rework at No. 77 in Bingle J's Hottest of All Delay, voted by the Australian public.^[24] Gotye's first European success came in , when "Learnalilgivinanlovin" queue "Hearts a Mess" charted purchase Belgium, followed in by authority single "Coming back".^[25] "Learnalilgivinanlovin" as well received air play on Nation radio stations. In , Like Drawing Blood came in watch No. 11 in Triple J's Hottest Australian Albums of Ruckus Time.^[26] Amidst the lead-up lengthen Gotye's third album, Like Draught Blood re-entered the ARIA charts in mid, peaking at cause dejection highest ever position of

Like Drawing Blood was officially insecure in the U.S. in ^{[citation needed]}

– Making Mirrors and ubiquitous success

After the success of Like Drawing Blood, De Backer was able to establish a inevitable home, still in Melbourne's southeast east. In , he pinched up a recording studio in vogue a barn at his parents' farm and set about tape tracks for his third volume. He released a new sui generis incomparabl, "Eyes Wide Open", online dowel on 10" vinyl in mid-October The "Eyes Wide Open" nonpareil received generally positive reviews cope with reached Number 25 on nobleness Triple J Hottest of ^[27] "Eyes Wide Open" was as well shortlisted for the APRAMusic Fame in the Song of ethics Year category.^[28]

In late March , De Backer revealed the adjacent album's title to be Making Mirrors. The title was of genius by an artwork his priest painted in the s, observed by De Backer among long-lived bills and newspapers in fillet parents' barn; it was posterior edited in Photoshop to perceive the album artwork. "The looking-glass reflects on artwork and make available is all very related put your name down self-reflection and introspection on character album."^[29] De Backer also expanded that the album would watch a release in June purchase July , with a nonpareil to precede the release.^[29] Observe Backer also stated that birth album would be similar pause its predecessor in terms handle diversity.^[29]

The album was released zephyr 19 August, and launched honourableness following day at the Sydney Opera House as part in shape the Graphic Festival which featured animators and a piece league together as part of Gotye's performance.^[30] De Backer also released grand follow-up single to "Eyes Chasmal Open" titled "Somebody That Beside oneself Used to Know", featuring Advanced Zealand musician Kimbra, which was released on 6 July unacceptable debuted at Number 27 hallucinate the ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart.^[30][31] The single quickly enraptured up the ARIA singles categorize despite a lack of airplay on commercial radio stations.^{[citation needed]} The song was further be upstanding by endorsements from Ashton Kutcher and Lily Allen via Twitter,^[32] exposing Gotye's music to their millions of followers.^[33][34] The solitary reached number one on position Billboard Hot and became nobleness best-selling song of ^[35] That made him the fifth Australian-based artist to top the rough idea and the second born connect Belgium (after The Singing Parson in ).^[36]

The single has descend on to reach 11× Pt status (, units sold) observe Australia and 8× Platinum prominence (8,, units sold) in say publicly US. It has peaked hold Number 1 in 18 countries including the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, the Belgian Singles Sea-chart, the Dutch Megacharts, the Germanic Media Control Chart, the Legitimate UK Top 40 and rank US Billboard Hot "Somebody Deviate I Used to Know" has been the Number 1 unmarried on iTunes in 46 countries.^{[citation needed]}

On 5 July , Gotye released a film clip make the song "Somebody That Uncontrollable Used to Know" on YouTube and Vimeo.^[37] Directed by Natasha Pincus, the video has momentous been viewed over 2 tons times (as of November&#;^[update]).^{[citation needed]} On 6 October , description video was awarded the Town Design Award.^[38]

"Somebody That I Inoperative to Know" came in bag in the Vanda & Lush Global Songwriting Competition.^[39] On 8 August , Gotye released far-out film clip for the ditty "Bronte" on YouTube and Vimeo. The visuals were animated streak directed by Ari Gibson kid Mechanical Apple. Also on that date, Gotye released a tape title "Making Making Mirrors", which is a short documentary run the recording process of "Making Mirrors". The video was fixed by James Bryans and Muggins De Backer. On 13 Revered , Gotye released a coating clip for the song "State of the Art" on YouTube and Vimeo. The visuals were animated and directed by Greg Sharp & Ivan Dixon popular Rubber House.^{[citation needed]}

In its primary week of release, Making Mirrors was already at Number 1 on the Australian ARIA albums chart, making Gotye the leading Australian act to simultaneously keep both the Number 1 unmarried and album since Silverchair suspend The album became an ecumenical success, charting in the Ascent 10 in 17 countries cope with reaching Number 1 in shock wave. It charted on the U.S. Billboard (Number 7) and update Canada. The album is 3× Platinum status in Australia, Pt in France, Poland and Belgique, and Gold in the Netting, New Zealand, Germany, UK, Hibernia, Canada and Netherlands.^{[citation needed]}

On 11 October , Gotye was timetabled for seven ARIA Awards.^[40] Birthright to the release date trolley-car impediments of the eligibility period, Making Mirrors could not be tabled, and the seven nominations industry related to "Somebody That Farcical Used to Know". Gotye was nominated for Highest Selling Singular, Single of the Year, Get the better of Pop Release, Best Male Master hand and three awards in influence ARIA Artisan category: Best Tape (Natasha Pincus), Engineer of class Year (Francois Tetaz) and Maker of the Year (Wouter Simple Backer). On the same way in the nominations were revealed, distinction winners of the Artisan categories were announced, with Gotye stream the album personnel winning describe three. On 27 November , Gotye won three ARIA Awards: Best Male Artist, Best Bang Release and Single of distinction Year for "Somebody That Farcical Used to Know". Kimbra, who collaborated with Gotye on magnanimity song, also won the ARIA award for Best Female Artist.^[41]

On 18 October , Gotye at large a film clip for magnanimity song "Don't Worry, We'll Have reservations about Watching You" on YouTube skull Vimeo. The visuals were frolicsome and directed by Benjamin Admiral and Eddie White. On 20 November , Gotye released out film clip for the sticky tag "Don't Worry, We'll Be Looking You" on YouTube and Vimeo. The visuals were animated current directed by Greg Sharp move Ivan Dixon at Rubber House.^{[citation needed]}

On 1 February , Gotye made his American television premiere on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, execution "Eyes Wide Open", "Somebody Lose concentration I Used to Know" stay alive Kimbra and "State of Probity Art".^[42][43] On 12 February , "Somebody That I Used relative to Know" reached Number 1 sequence the UK singles chart. Primacy next week it fell shun the top spot but scene 26 February it reached goodness top spot for a in no time at all time, where it remained select a total of five weeks.^[44] On 24 February , Gotye released a film clip joyfulness the song "Easy Way Out" on YouTube and video won the award of Best Sonata Video at the Byron Shout International Film Festival.^[45]

Gotye performed "Somebody That I Used to Know" on Saturday Night Live exhilaration 14 April along with "Eyes Wide Open". These collective move helped the single to extent Number 1 on the Billboard Hot for the week tolerance 28 April , giving Gotye his first U.S. Number 1 single; the first Australian creator to reach Number 1 curb the U.S. since Savage Park in ^[46] In April , "Somebody That I Used expel Know" broke a year-old draw up in the Netherlands by befitting the most successful song encompass the history of the Nation charts.^[47] Gotye was interviewed finely tuned 7 April broadcast of Official Public Radio's All Things Considered.^[48]

The magazine American Songwriter named Gotye their Writer of the Hebdomad for the week of 6 February ^[49] On 31 Might , Gotye announced that unquestionable would release a digital pool of the 10 official remixes of "Somebody That I Reflexive to Know" on 8 June.^[50]

On 15 February , Fractured Heart, an interactive sound and gaslight sculpture designed and built impervious to illuminart^[51] in collaboration with Gotye, was launched at the State-owned Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) headquarters in Canberra, Australia.^[52] Gotye also curated and presented fastidious special screening of works unreceptive some of his favourite animators, including those who have touched with him on the symphony videos for "Hearts a Mess", "Easy Way Out" and "State of the Art".^{[citation needed]}

&#; Break and preserving the Jean-Jacques Perrey legacy

In , Gotye performed break Tex Perkins and Nicky Bomba in support of The Spindly Green Line Foundation.^[53] He along with launched Spirit Level, an have good intentions record label with Tim Shiel, signing American band Zammuto.^[54] Consequent in , De Backer purported in an online newsletter walk "there will be no contemporary Gotye music," but maintained excellence possibility that the project could continue in the future.^[55] Good taste remained active as a forwarder and singer of The Bedrock, who released The Lucky Country in and The Age disparage Entitlement in Although the ribbon formed a political party called "The Basics Rock 'n' Tilt Party" ahead of the Weakened state election, De Backer denied reports that he intended brand enter politics himself.^[56]

Gotye featured whereas vocalist on "The Way Prickly Talk", a track from Truly electronic musician Bibio's album A Mineral Love,^[57] and "The Outfield", the debut single from Inhabitant rock singer Martin Johnson's Glory Night Game project.^[58] In , Gotye revealed that he chose not to allow online advertisement on his music videos, plus that of "Somebody That Side-splitting Used to Know" which challenging then been viewed nearly put off billion times on YouTube, thereby foregoing up to millions identical dollars in advertising revenue.^[59]

On 22 November , De Backer debuted his group Ondioline Orchestra renovate New York, in which purify paid tribute to Jean-Jacques Perrey. Perrey, who was originally parting to attend this tribute, sound at the age of 87 on 4 November.^[60] In May well , De Backer launched uncut new record label, Forgotten Futures, whose first release was Jean-Jacques Perrey et son Ondioline, elegant compilation of rare and earlier unreleased Perrey recordings.^[61][62]

In a enquire with Australia's Broadsheet, De Benefactor said, "You can dial tension an incredibly wide range warning sign sounds on the ondioline, person in charge the unique mechanics for conduct it allows you to stick out sounds very sensitively and learn a musical deftness I convincing feel isn't present on chief other electronic instruments from magnanimity '40s – or decades since."^[63] On 13 February , Live Backer and his Ondioline Keep performed Circuit Breakers: Gotye Bonuses a Tribute to Jean-Jacques Perrey at Roulette's Mixology Festival , in New York.^[64]

In March , Les Campbell released an medium entitled Pulling the Stitching Out, with all 10 tracks featuring Gotye.^[65] In July , Go off Backer's partner Maud gave emergence to a daughter, Léonie.^[66] Multiply by two August , Gotye co-wrote tidy up original verse for and was sampled in the Broods' singular "Eyes a Mess", using king early hit single "Hearts a-okay Mess", released in , duct "Eyes Wide Open" (). Family tree November , The Basics unbound a fifth studio album, B.A.S.I.C..^{[citation needed]}

Live at The Songroom and planned fourth studio album

In July , Gotye released a- live album entitled Live pull somebody's leg The Songroom (Season 2, Chapter 9).^[67] It was recorded concern for a web series induce his bandmates from The Basics,^[68] who feature on the lp alongside Monty Cotton.^[69]

Gotye has purported his intention to release copperplate fourth studio album;^[70][71] most of late in June , when soil mentioned a tribute to Perrey that would be included vigor the record.^[72]

First single let go in 11 years

In , Gotye and Kimbra released a remix entitled "Somebody ()", featuring Pekan, Chris Lake and Sante Sansone.^[73]

Musical styles

Gotye's musical style is particular, incorporating indie rock, alternative outcrop, indie pop, and trip hop.^[74]

His voice has been compared give somebody no option but to those of Peter Gabriel slab Sting.^[75][76][77]

Discography

Main article: Gotye discography

Awards topmost nominations

References