Making Mirrors (2011)

Making Mirrors is the third studio album by Australian singer-songwriter Gotye, released in Australia on 19 August 2011. It included the single "Somebody That I Used to Know", which reached and topped charts worldwide as well as winning several awards. In December 2011, it was announced that Making Mirrors was voted Triple J listeners' number-one album of 2011, making Gotye the first artist to win the Triple J album poll twice. The album won the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album.

History and production

In mid-October 2010, Gotye released a single titled "Eyes Wide Open", the first track from the album. The single received generally positive reviews and reached #25 in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2010.

In late March 2011, Gotye revealed the album's title, which was inspired by an artwork De Backer chanced upon which was edited to create the album cover art. He said, "The mirror reflects on artwork and it is all very related to self-reflection and introspection on the album." Gotye also revealed that the album would see a release in June or July 2011, with a single to precede the release, along with the fact that the album would be similar to its predecessor in terms of diversity. The album was largely recorded at a converted studio at Gotye's parents' farm in the Mornington Peninsula. The release of the album was delayed for over five months due to the composition and recording of a single track.

On 19 May 2011, it was announced that this album would be released on 19 August 2011, with the album to be launched the following day at the Sydney Opera House as part of the Graphic Festival, with animators and a ten-piece orchestra as part of Gotye's performance.

Gotye was also to issue a follow-up single to "Eyes Wide Open" titled "Somebody That I Used to Know", on 11 July 2011. Upon the announcement of the track listing, Gotye also revealed that there would be a DVD accompanying the record which would include music videos and documentaries. However, controversy erupted on 5 July 2011, when the video for the new single, "Somebody That I Used to Know", was leaked online via the Take 40 Australia website. Later that day, the song was aired for the first time on Triple J with the official stamp of approval from Gotye. Gotye released the single six days early, on 5 July 2011, through iTunes Australia, and his website for international followers. The song reached #1 in the ARIA Singles Chart, the ARIA Digital Singles Chart and #1 in the ARIA Australian Artists Chart.

The song went on to be an international success, charting in the top 20 in over 10 countries with 6 of them being at number one; the song also charted in the US and Canada. In Poland, just one day after its release, the album was certified platinum.

As of 4 November 2011, the single had received five times platinum sales and the #1 position on the Australian iTunes Store, making it one of the highest-selling singles of 2011. The single has officially been certified nine times platinum, selling over 630,000 copies, making it the most successful Australian song on the ARIA charts of all time.

The album was certified two times platinum by the ARIA Albums Chart, making it the most successful Australian album of 2011. Since then, the album has been certified three times platinum, selling in excess of 210,000 copies in Australia. "Bronte" was released as the third single on 8 August 2011. "I Feel Better" was released as the fourth single from the album in Australia on 24 October 2011. The song, however, failed to reach the top 100. "Easy Way Out" was released in the UK as a promotional single on 3 November 2011. It was eventually released as the fifth single from Making Mirrors in Australia on 27 February 2012.

In 2013, the companion video album Video Mirrors was released, including 12 music videos and one featurette, with a runtime of 59 minutes.

Gotye claimed in 2014 that "there will be no new Gotye music," marking this as his final album under the Gotye name.

In 2019, American rapper Doechii released a song titled "Anxiety" that prominently samples the song "Somebody That I Used to Know". "Anxiety" peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100.

Concept and themes

Shortly before its release, Gotye spoke to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation about the significance of the artwork, the title, and how it symbolises the creative and introspective process of recording the album; "It's more about reflection [...] little ways for me to explore my record collection, explore the world of sound that I'm fascinated by, and also sometimes get a different perspective on memories and emotions I've been mulling over".

Gotye revealed that the second single from the album, "Somebody That I Used to Know", was not lyrically the result of a single break-up. "It wasn't about one specific relationship," explained De Backer in an interview, "but it was definitely drawn from various experiences I've had in relationships breaking up."