Gotye

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Gotye

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Img_capt = Gotye performing at the Wollongong Botanical Gardens in March 2008
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Wouter DeBacker
Born = Birth date and age|1980|05|21
Origin = Belgium
Instruments = Vocals, guitar, drums, synthesiser
Genre = Indie rock, experimental rock
Occupation(s) = Singer-songwriter
Years_active = 2003 – "present"
Label = Independent, Creative Vibes
Related_acts = The Basics
URL = [http://www.gotye.com/ http://www.gotye.com]

Wouter DeBacker (born 21 May 1980, Bruges), more commonly known by the stage name Gotye (pronounced|goːtijeː), is an ARIA Award-winning singer-songwriter. Born in Belgium but based in the city of Melbourne, Australia, Gotye has released two studio albums independently and one remix album featuring remixes of tracks from his first two albums.

Biography

Born in Belgium but raised in Australia, Walter (real name Wouter) has been making music since his teens, first in moody local rock band Downstares, a fixture at underage shows in the North-East suburbs of Melbourne for a few years. When that band dissolved Wally started focusing on his solo project, cut'n'paste tunes that eventually would come under the moniker of 'Gotye'.

He is also one-third of Melbourne indie-pop band The Basics.

As Gotye, his public exposure, like many alternative Australian musical acts, comes largely from youth radio station Triple J.

His first single, "Learnalilgivinanlovin" from "Like Drawing Blood", was released in August, 2006.

Gotye's second album "Like Drawing Blood" was featured by Triple J in May 2006 [ [http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/review/album/s1641949.htm Triple J Feature Album - 'Like Drawing Blood'] ] and was voted Number 1 in the listeners poll of the Best Album of 2006 [ [http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/kingsmill/audience_albums.htm Triple J 2006 Best Album audience poll] ] . The album was also nominated for a J Award that year [ [http://abc.net.au/triplej/jaward/like_drawing_blood.htm J Award Nomination] ] . 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 [ [http://www.triplej.abc.net.au/hottest100/countdown/# Triple J Hottest 100 - 2006] ] . "Like Drawing Blood" has been certified Gold for sales of over 35,000 copies.

In September 2006, Gotye was nominated for an Australian Recording Industry Music Award (ARIA award) for best independent release for his album "Like Drawing Blood" [ [http://www.ariaawards.com.au/winners-nominees-2006.php 2006 Aria Nominees] ] .

Also in 2006 Gotye won 'Most Outstanding New Independent Artist' at the inaugural Australian Independent Record (AIR) Chart Awards [ [http://www.air.org.au/index.php?apply=&webpage=air_charts&cID=2104&menuID=502 2006 AIR Chart Awards] ] and "Like Drawing Blood" is amongst nine shortlisted finalists in the 2006 Australian Music Prize [ [http://www.australianmusicprize.com.au/ AMP 2006 Nominees] ] .

In 2007, Gotye won the ARIA for best male artist. As a result of the publicity of the nomination, "Like Drawing Blood" re-entered the ARIA album chart at #36, surpassing the previous peak of #39. Also, "Mixed Blood" debuted on the ARIA album chart at #44. Both of these entries came the first week after the ARIA Awards.

Gotye is renowned for his unusual live performances. "At his debut UK show, he switched between keyboards, computer, percussion and a drum kit, lined up along the front of the stage, sometimes playing, often simply setting off samples, sporadically singing. The effect was astonishing.

Origins Of 'Gotye'

Wally was embarking on a project that was, in his own words, "about refiguring past things (old vinyl sounds) with my own ideas". It therefore seemed appropriate to draw on his past for inspiration for the project's name. Wouter, Gotye's real name, from Dutch translates into French as Gaultier (or Gautier or Gauthier). Wally's mother used to call him Gaultier as a pet name. Drawing on this and choosing his own spelling gives us 'Gotye'.

Gotye is pronounced|goːtijeː, approximately "gore-ti-yeah" in Australian English.

Discography

;Studio albums
* "Boardface" – (2004)
* "Like Drawing Blood" – #36 (Australia); – (2006)
* "Mixed Blood" – #44 (Australia) – (2007)

;Singles
* "Learnalilgivinanlovin" – (2006)

References

External links

* [http://www.gotye.com Official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/gotye Web page] on MySpace
* [http://music.virgin.com/2008/09/23/eleanor-conway-presents-gotye/ Eleanor Conway Presents: Gotye Video Interview on music.virgin.com]