Wally De Backer, better known by his recording and performing name of Gotye, has declared he will no longer release music under the moniker that saw him dominate the globe with runaway 2011 single Somebody That I Used to Know, despite previously confirming he is working on new music.
In an newsletter issued online by De Backer, the Melbourne artist stated that, “there will be no new Gotye music.” De Backer then seems to think better of such a definite statement and leaves open a slight possibly that one day, perhaps, Gotye will be heard from again.
“Wait, maybe there will be,” wrote De Backer, “I’m not entirely sure right now. There are many contingencies.”
“The Artist Formerly Known As Gotye” noted one of those contingencies as the “continued human capacity for sound perception”, which, in a world that is becoming increasingly louder would seem to lead to a future Gotye sonic masterpiece probably falling on deaf ears.
“If the world gets noisier at the present rate, and instances of early-onset deafness rise correspondingly, and I release my magnus opus in a format that requires the generation and amplification of sound waves via some form of audio reproduction technology in order to be perceptible, will anybody hear this work?”
Back in July, De Backer told triple j‘s The Doctor that there would be a follow-up to the world-beating Making Mirrors next year. “I’ve been tracking down specific sounds for these song concepts I have,” he said at the time. “It’s taking a while, as is my way. I really hope I’d be mixing a new Gotye record by the end of the year, hopefully have the songs together first thing next year.”
The newsletter also mentions his new record label Spirit Level, name as such because “one day, when the money’s all gone and everyone’s deaf, we might want to shift into architecture and construction.” De Backer also writes on new music coming from his band The Basics, which the trio have been recording in London’s famed Abbey Road studios.
For those down in the dumps De Backer says not to fret, “One thing you can count on: I will do my best to make it enjoyable for both of us.” We’ll hold you to that, Wally.
