What happened to 'Somebody That I Used To Know' singer Gotye after he missed out on millions

It soared to number one in charts across the globe, and has over 2 billion total streams and views on YouTube.

The 2011 hit 'Somebody That I Used to Know' became a global phenomenon, featuring singer Gotye - real name Wouter Andre De Backer and Kimbra.

The music video became iconic, featuring the pair singing passionately about feeling like you are losing a loved one, against a minimalist painted backdrop.

And as the camera panned out, the two musicians were seen stripped down as their bodies were also painted to blend into the backdrop nude and muted coloured backdrop.

It became one of the biggest tracks of the 2010s, earning a number one spot in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as reaching the top 10 in more than 30 countries.

It was thought that Belgian-Australian singer Gotye would go on to create even more incredible music, with the single actually taken from his third studio album Making Mirrors.

But, now 15 years on, the music star hasn't released any new solo material, and previously admitted to missing out on earning millions over the hit song.

Gotye explained how despite the stratospheric success, he wasn't interested in selling his music.

At the time, he turned down millions of dollars in YouTube advertising money, because he didn't want to turn his music into another way to sell people things

He explained this to news.com.au back in 2017, saying: "That’s the reason I don’t put ads on my YouTube channel, which seems strange to people in today’s climate, but that is a decision you can make.

"I’m like that with all my music. Ads are calling for our attention anywhere we turn in the world.

"I decided it made more sense to focus on creative things and not get hung up on money and lawyers and courts."

What happened to Gotye?

A few years after the song was released, Gotye suggested he would not be releasing any more music in a cryptic message to fans, adding: "Wait, maybe there will be. I'm not entirely sure right now. There are many contingencies."

However he became involved in some personal projects instead including in 2014 when he launched a record label called Spirit Level.

He was also an active drummer and singer in a band, called The Basics, who are still active and receiving music.

As well as this, the musician took on another interesting project following his friendship with Jean-Jacques Perrey, a pioneer of the electronic music genre.

Gotye made it his mission to preserve Perrey's musical legacy, buying two vintage electronic keyboards and formed the Ondioline Orchestra in New York.

Speaking to Broadsheet in 2018, Gotye said: "You can dial in an incredibly wide range of sounds on the ondioline and the unique mechanics for playing it allows you to create sounds very sensitively and with a musical deftness I just feel isn't present on most other electronic instruments from the '40s - or decades since."

Most recently, Gotye made a rare post on his Instagram page, announcing he would be pressing his back catalogue of music onto a vinyl, inviting fans to sign up to a newsletter.

"As I mentioned a coupla weeks back, I’ve been working with trusted collaborators to press my back catalog of albums on vinyl, with the goal of getting them into your hands before the year is through," he wrote.

"Yesterday I sent out a newsletter announcing the pre-order of the Making Mirrors reissue. There are still some available so head to the link in my bio to secure yours now."