GOTYE Interview!!

There weren't any record labels that showed interest in my music.
So I made a move myself.
But the whole thing wouldn't have been possible
without support from everyone - my fans, radio stations, etc.
I owe it to them - that's why I'm sitting here.

--- The album title “Like Drawing Blood”: How did you come up with this? What's the reason?

GOTYE　 It was very difficult to finish the album. I've lost some data. I had very little time to work on my Gotye music so there was a struggle of ‘an hour here, two hours there' putting little bits and pieces. It just took a long time to finish it and, a number of times while I was making it, I thought about stopping and giving up on it. Not continuing. And I had this piece of artwork already. I wanted to use it as the artwork. It just kind of got together, actually. Like drawing blood is like, you know, making the album sucked so much energy and life from me, like blood. And that fitted with the piece of artwork. They go together quite well.

--- "Hearts A Mess" video is almost complete as a work of art. Are you very particular about art directions of your promotion videos or album artwork? Are they crucial as part of your musical pursuit?

GOTYE　 Yeah I'd like to be. I just like to work with people who I think are doing interesting, inspiring work, and I do like directors who help me progress. Most of the videos I've done, they're usually being … I love 90 or 95% of them and there's been some things that I've worked on and I'd like to be involved to a point at least that they would take some suggestions of mine so that we both finish with the video that we both love. But generally I think it's about picking a video director who's got an interesting idea, who really think the idea is gonna be great, and importantly that director or animator can really realize that idea and make it work, make it clear and fantastic, ‘cause some people have grand ideas but the end product doesn't match up with the idea. So that's one thing I've experienced a little bit. And I think I've been very lucky with the people I've worked with. We've done amazing things with the video.

--- So you would say that you would find quite a few of such talented directors in Australia .

GOTYE　Yeah, I've only worked with Australians.

--- We talked about you being Beck of the next generation. I think by that the media people would like to say that you are a creator of new music. Just like The Avalanches and others, every now and then your country generates very unique artists. And I wonder how that country helps those people to come out or emerge.

GOTYE　 Well in Australia 's case – I think there's a lot of interesting, good music coming out from Australia at the moment, in the last 5, 10 years. I think Australia is slowly opening up. Sometimes Australia can be a bit behind from the rest of the world, with trends and sounds, but in the last 5 or 10 years young people getting interested in music have three things. Like internet, and through certain scenes that kind of opened in Sydney, and through a few key radio stations, RRR in Melbourne, FBI in Sydney, JJJ Radio which is national. People are listening to more progressive types of music and have access to lots of different things. I think there's a good culture in Australia allowing new and interesting things in the music scene to come forth now. Maybe it was a bit more closed like genres, wasn't as open, but it took a while for dance music, hip-hop, and just electronic music, for people to accept it and to get into it. So now a really interesting thing's happening with electronic music, dance music and, cut-and-paste styles of hip-hop music… and there's a kind of meeting point between the styles.

--- So you are saying that because of that kind of background, with that kind of music emerging in the scene, your kind of music actually came about and came up on surface. Probably the radio stations are quite influential?

GOTYE　 I got a lot of support from RRR, FBI, JJJ, the three radio stations. So if those kinds of radio stations had not been open to the kind of music I was writing, then I wouldn't have had much chance to get up there. That's one other good thing about Australia is the independent radio or community radio scene. Australia has a big commercial radio network, and my music is never being played on that, and I don't think it never will be (laughs). But stations like RRR, JJJ, FBI, really are great because they allow people to hear new and interesting music. Yeah, I think if it wasn't for radio stations like that, maybe I would have given up on making music a while ago, because none of the record labels were interested in releasing my music and that's why I did it myself. Releasing my records independently through the support of those radio stations and through people who listen to those radio stations responding to my music. That's a larger reason why I'm sitting here today.

--- So the whole process of your starting off creating music from your bedroom, the music passed onto independent radio stations and that brought you out to the world and that's why you are here. Has it been your dream to reach out to audiences around the world just like this? You know you get a lot of response from all areas of the world about your music.

GOTYE　 Well it's been my dream to make interesting, progressive music and to find enough people who are interested in that music to provide me with the way to sustain myself so that I can keep making music. And if I can keep making music as an end, you know. If I can keep doing that for years to come then that will be my dream and I think I'm very lucky to have that opportunity. So, yes it's been a bit of a dream-come-true.

--- As you have lived in Japan before, can you name any Japanese artists that you are keen on, if you have any?

GOTYE　 I like Yellow Magic Orchestra a lot. And Cornelius is probably my favourite Japanese artist, and Osaka Monaurail, and Kitaro as well. That's most of the Japanese music I've listened to. Quite famous artists, I guess. It'd be nice to discover some more independent or underground Japanese artists.

--- You are going to join Fuji Rock Festival this summer. Still there's quite a while before that happens. Do you have expectations? Are you looking forward to it?

GOTYE　Yeah, definitely looking forward to it. Well this is my first international primal tour for my Gotye music. I'm not thinking too much about Fuji Rock yet because I have to go from here to the U.K, and Belgium where Natasha is spending time with friends, then we are going to fly to the United States to spend some time with my friends, and while I'm doing these shows and head on holiday I have to be maybe be recording things on my laptop for new music. But after that I'm sure the next thing would focusing back on coming to Fuji Rock, that'll be great.

--- I'm really looking forward to seeing your show in summer.
So before closing this interview – this interview will be put up on our website, and if you could introduce your album and give our users your message?

 

Voice Message from GOTYE to HMV ONLINE Users!!

 

End