MELBOURNE, AU — After over a decade of silence, singer-songwriter Gotye has finally returned to the music world — and the reason behind his long absence is as bizarre as it is relatable.
Wouter André De Backer, better known as Gotye, skyrocketed to global fame with his 2012 chart-topping hit “Somebody That I Used To Know.” But as the song dominated radio stations and its music video — featuring full-body paint — racked up millions of views, Gotye was quietly retreating from the spotlight.
“I just couldn’t face people,” said the artist. “I couldn’t scrub the paint off. Imagine trying to show up to the studio or a talk show still looking like abstract wall art — I couldn’t do it.”
What was meant to be a one-night shoot turned into a decade-long skincare nightmare. After partying in full body paint following the video shoot, Gotye woke up unable to remove the layers. He tried everything: hot water, soap, scrubs, even ordering specialized skincare products online — all to no avail.
“It was embarrassing. I was Googling things like ‘how to remove industrial paint from skin’ in secret. For a while, I just gave up and stayed home,” he admitted.
Gotye’s breakthrough finally came at a South Korean cosmetic clinic, where he underwent a cutting-edge skin-resurfacing procedure that finally restored his natural complexion.
With the ordeal behind him, Gotye is now preparing to release a new album — and his first single is both cheeky and meaningful: a stripped-down techno cover of Scrub-a-dub-dub by Mother Goose Club.
“It’s kind of a public service announcement. If my story prevents even one person from using permanent paint on their body, it’ll be worth it,” he added.