The Basics – “Законопослушный гражданин (Don’t Be Deceived)”

A powerful brooding new song from The Basics – 'Законопослушный гражданин (Don’t Be Deceived)'

Formed over two decades ago in Melbourne, The Basics began crafting their signature brand of rock-infused pop long before drummer Wally de Backer gained global recognition under his solo moniker Gotye. Despite the members leading very different lives—across continents and careers—the band has always found a way to reunite and create together.
Fast forward to 2025: Wally has relocated with his family from New York to the south of France, quietly building a new body of work. Guitarist Tim Heath now lives in Castlemaine, Victoria, where he and his partner Felicity Cripps run the storied Theatre Royal venue. Bassist Kris Schroeder, now a doctor, lives in Townsville, Queensland, working at the local hospital and raising a young family.
Despite these far-flung locations, the trio recently reunited in New York to record a new batch of songs. And while in the studio, something unexpected happened.

Their engineer casually mentioned that a man from Belarus had knocked on the door the night before, asking for work. He was returning that day to follow up.
“From Belarus?” they asked.
Turns out, he had fled his homeland—long under authoritarian rule—seeking asylum. The world was in turmoil: the war in Ukraine continued, China made overtures toward Taiwan, Israel had reportedly seized Gaza, and the U.S. had begun eyeing Canada, Panama, and even Greenland. Everything felt uncertain. People, like this man, were being crushed by regimes and disillusioned dreams.
When he returned, the man brought with him a quiet determination. He explained that he had modest success as a music producer in Europe and now hoped to build a new life—one that would eventually allow him to bring his family to safety. 
Kris, who’d been learning Russian since 2018, mentioned he had been writing a song in the language—an exercise turned composition about true freedom. Not the kind sold by telecoms or car companies, but freedom from coercion. Freedom to think, to grow, to be.
The man connected with the lyrics immediately. Together, they refined the song—he helped correct the syntax, made it sing naturally.
“My ears have improved since I first tried learning the language,” Kris said, “but my tongue is still clumsy.”
Luckily, Wally and Tim had already laid a solid musical foundation to build on.
Elsewhere in the world, a Russian-speaking Israeli singer added haunting vocals to complement the melody.
But like their Belarusian collaborator, she chose to remain anonymous—for safety.
Both contributors remain uncredited, for now. Their courage speaks through the music.

And the result is this: A brooding, powerful new song from The Basics — 
“Законопослушный гражданин (Don’t Be Deceived)” – a protest, a collaboration, a message wrapped in melody.