Listening to Xavier Rudd’s music is a unique experience. The Australian folk singer uses wood instruments like the aboriginal didgeridoo to enhance his rhythm and guitar for a psychedelic visit into his world.
Rudd is currently on tour in support of Dark Shades of Blue, his fifth studio album. The tour brings him to Banff on June 4th, Calgary June 5th and Edmonton June 6th. We caught up with him on the phone on a tour stop in Houston, Texas before he returned to his home away from home, Canada. He is married to a Canadian girl, Marci, who he met when she was backpacking in Australia, and the couple has two sons. Needless to say, Canada is close to his heart.
“Canada is very special to me. I have a very strong connection, both with Marci and my two kids. Half of my crew is Canadian, my manager is Canadian, there is a deep connection there. Canada is a very powerful place. Spiritually, the aboriginals are just amazing, very strong and powerful and similar to back home. The spirit of the two cultures is in my mind what the connection is and why Australians and Canadians are drawn to each other’s land. They understand it because spiritually the connection is very strong.”
Listening to his music, or doing any research on Rudd reveals a very deep, spiritual person. A self-professed “bare-footer” he doesn’t own or wear footwear, is a vegetarian, and very active in aboriginal and environmental rights.
“It is just the way I grew up. A lot of it is just where my interests lie, what I feel and care about. It translates through traveling around the world, playing music. Based on what I write it has attracted a movement of earthy types of people who care about the environment. As I have traveled I have learned a lot about different people, places, cultures and injustices that are happening worldwide. I feel that I have to do whatever I can within my capacity to help those things because I am so passionate.”
His vegetarianism lead to him being dubbed “Worlds Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrity” by PETA in 2007, an honor he still laughs about today.
”That was probably the oddest thing I have ever heard of. I have always seen myself as a hairy little hobbit, so I was surprised by that.”
It is hard to describe Rudd’s music, as it really is very original. His youth spent in the Australian outback comes through as a strong influence; it is just as easy to imagine sitting around a fire in the bush listening to him play music and sing as it is to envision him in a concert setting.
“I don’t really try or think too much about it. I just do what I do based upon what I feel. I am attracted to wooden instruments; I have always loved wood, handmade instruments, eclectic things. What I write about and how the music comes through me is based on how I grew up. I grew up in a small town on the edge of a National Park camping out in the bush and sitting by the fire and sleeping under the stars, swimming in the ocean. It is hard for me to explain why my music is unique; it is just what I do.”
Rudd is a veteran of the festival circuit, having played Winnipeg Folk Festival, Bonnaroo Music Festival, Ottawa Bluesfest and a 2005 performance at the Calgary Folk Music Festival. Rudd says he loves the festival experience, despite often feeling that he is being cut short.
“Festivals are always fun because people are pumped. People come and they let go for the time the festival goes on, they let their inner spirits fly, let go of their worries, take off their ties and put on the tie-died t-shirts and trip out. That is always a great environment for playing music because people are really meaning to connect with music, dancing, friends and family. It is always a beautiful memory. I have a problem with the set list not being long enough at festivals; I want to keep playing every time. With my own shows I like the fact that I do what I want and can play for as long as I want. I still find it is the same energy at my own shows that there is at festivals. Festivals are often outside and I like playing outside. I would love to eventually do my own shows outside.”
If you have seen Xavier Rudd live before, you are in for a different and new experience this tour. If you haven’t he promises you are in for a treat.
”This tour is nothing like I have done before. I have had a big break, six months, and come back and am playing with two South African musicians, a bass player and a drummer. We are working on a new album this year that we are going to record in October so we have been working on that during this tour. I am redoing versions of my old songs with these guys and it has a very African bounce. It is a trip but is pretty groovy, I hope people are going to be stoked.”
It can be draining to be so far from home. Many touring artists are based in North America so when they tour here, if they need a break it is a short flight home. Rudd is on the other side of the world from home, but takes time to get back in touch with his roots and keep grounded.
”At times it wears me out. The reason I had a big break was because I was pretty burnt, it was the longest break I have had in ten years. My life has changed a lot since I started touring and doing what I do. I used to avoid cities, I spent a lot of time on my own away from them. There are a lot of people in my life now and cities and things like that so I have had to adjust. I love what I do and am very blessed; there is no real negative. …I do like to explore places if I have some time off - I like to get out of the city. Usually a short distance outside of the cities is something cool to do, an ocean or river, park, big tree, something to kind of escape. I find it interesting in North America the difference in land, how the earth feels under my feet, what plants grow. I check all of that out.”
Rudd’s music draws a very diverse group of fans, something he is very thankful for.
”I am so stoked man. It is lovely, such good people come to the shows. It is always good energy at the show and it is such a blast. Thank you for your support. I love coming through and love everything that comes through getting to the show. Watching people enjoy themselves, dance, be in love, words can’t explain that. I just appreciate it.”
