The album was largely recorded at a converted studio at Gotye's parents' farm in the Mornington Peninsula.
At the J Awards of 2011, the album won the Australian Album of the Year.
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."
Despite the album's huge success, Gotye revealed in an interview with Rolling Stone Australia that he initially battled with indecision and depression while making the album, which in turn became the subject matter of songs like "Smoke and Mirrors" (with a central theme of impostor syndrome) and "Save Me". He stated: "There were points that I thought I wouldn't be able to finish a record I was really into or that I'd give up at some stage."
According to an interview in The Age, the track "State of the Art" is about a secondhand 1970s organ Gotye's parents purchased. The accompanying music video is an animation showing a family purchasing and playing the instrument, which captivates and transforms the family into metal people resembling organ pipes.
Making Mirrors
Gotye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That opened to everything
And I'm reaching towards it
Drifting backwards
Drawing the curtains
Windows inside my head
Maybe I'm only making mirrors
The song "Making Mirrors" by Gotye is a reflective tune that draws on introspective and metaphysical themes. The lyrics, "dreamt of a doorway that opened to everything and I'm reaching towards it, drifting backward," talks about the artist's desire to reach the heights of success while being pulled back by the realization that most things are transitory. The lyrics suggest that life is a fleeting and ever-changing journey, and that the artist is constantly striving to achieve and create new things.
The following line, "drawing the curtains, windows inside my head," refers to the artist's imagination and creative process. The creative process involves shutting out external influences and diving deep into one's subconscious in order to find inspiration. The artist is peering into his own mind and looking for something that will inspire him to create. He acknowledges that this may be a form of self-reflection, and concludes with the lyrics, "Maybe I'm only making mirrors." The lyrics suggest that creating art is an act of introspection and that perhaps the real value of art lies in the reflection it provides of oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
Dreamt of a doorway
I envisioned an entrance
That opened to everything
And it allowed access to all possibilities
And I'm reaching towards it
I am attempting to reach for it
Drifting backwards
But I am being pushed away
Drawing the curtains
I am closing off my thoughts
Windows inside my head
My mind is like a view from a window
Maybe I'm only making mirrors
Perhaps I am only reflecting on myself
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Walter Andre De Backer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind