Before his star went supernova, Gotye was simply Wally De Backer — drummer with the Basics.
The Australian artist behind the 2012 smash “Somebody That I Used to Know” (featuring Kimbra) has returned to his roots with the Basics, playing up-front in the group’s new blues-rock song, “So Hard For You.”
The Melbourne-based artist takes duties on the mic and appears through the clip with Basics bassist Kris Schroeder, guitarist Tim Heath and a cadre of new and older faces. Schroeder’s spot was recorded on location in Kenya, where he apparently contracted Malaria.
Helmed by filmmaker Andrew Mortlock, the video is an ode to vinyl. Rows of the stuff live and breathe from their shelves, and a Frank Sinatra classic springs to life.
Gotye Gets Back to Basics, His Band Before ‘Somebody’ Blew Him Up
The Basics formed in 2002, and have four studio albums to their name. They’ll return to the road for an Australian tour this September, their first in three years.
“We’re doing shows just because we’re three friends who haven’t seen much of each other for the last few years and we’re keen to play music together again. It’s as simple as that, really. (It’s) to enjoy it,” De Backer recently told Billboard.
Watch “So Hard for You” below: