Gotye Performs "Somebody That I Used to Know" Live on KCRW

A live radio session at KCRW captures Gotye and Kimbra performing "Somebody That I Used to Know" in an intimate studio setting. No stage production, no audience, just two performers locked in on the song.

The Performance

The clip shows both performers in KCRW's studio wearing headphones, standing at microphones with a keyboard and drum kit visible in the frame. The setup is minimal. What makes the performance compelling is the vocal interplay between the two singers and the raw energy they bring to a stripped-down arrangement.

Kimbra and Gotye performing together in the KCRW radio studio, both wearing headphones at their microphones with a cymbal in the foreground

The song builds to the moment the title references: when both voices open up together. In a studio environment with no crowd noise and no effects chain to hide behind, the dynamic shift from restrained verses to full-voice chorus hits differently than it does on the album recording.

Both performers mid-performance, Kimbra singing and gesturing while Gotye stands at the keyboard, KCRW Presents sign visible in background

Why Radio Sessions Work

KCRW's live sessions occupy a specific space in music. Artists perform in real time with minimal takes and no post-production. What the microphone picks up is what the listener gets. That constraint forces performers to lean on musicianship and instinct rather than studio polish.

Close-up shot of Gotye singing with Kimbra visible behind him, both fully engaged in the performance

For a song that became one of the biggest hits of its era, hearing it in this raw form is a reminder of how strong the vocal arrangement is when there is nothing else to lean on.

Key Takeaways

Live KCRW sessions strip songs down to pure performance with no post-production safety net
The vocal interplay between Gotye and Kimbra is the centerpiece of this arrangement
Minimal production environments reveal whether a song stands on its own