 " Somebody That I Used to Know " is a song written by Belgian @-@ Australian singer @-@ songwriter Gotye , featuring New Zealand singer / guitarist Kimbra . The song was released in Australia and New Zealand by Eleven Music on 5 January 2012 as the second single from Gotye 's third studio album , Making Mirrors ( 2011 ) . It was later released by Universal Music in December 2011 in the United Kingdom , and in January 2012 in the United States and Ireland . " Somebody That I Used To Know " was written and recorded by Gotye at his parents ' house on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria and is lyrically related to the experiences he has had with relationships . 
