Rollo & Grady Interview // Xavier Rudd
Xavier Rudd is an immensely talented, multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter from Torquay, Australia. When he takes the stage Rudd is a one-man band who plays surrounded by instruments in a complicated array – typically, he has three didgeridoos placed in front of him on a stand, a Weissenborn slide guitar on his lap, a stompbox by his habitually bare feet, and an assortment of drums, banjos, harmonicas, bells and bass guitar. He has developed a strong reputation for playing live performances at festivals and concerts in Australia, Europe, Canada and the United States. Rudd has toured with Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, G. Love and the Dave Matthews Band.
R&G: You have a pretty busy schedule the next couple months. Were you able to take any time off at the beginning of the year?
Xavier: Yeah. I took five months off at the start of the year. It was good. I needed the break, but it’s good to get started again.
R&G: What did you do during the break?
Xavier: Just things that I grew up doing: surfing, camping, sitting by the fire, spending a lot of time in the bush doing ceremonies, getting in touch with my aboriginal roots. Stuff like that.
R&G: Are you able to discuss what those ceremonies are about?
Xavier: One particular men’s ceremony that’s been done on the east coast of Australia since the beginning of time, focuses on cleansing the spirit. With all my travel, I have a tendency to pick up spirits, and they sort of stay with me. I need to clean myself, you know?
R&G: This tour marks the first time that you’re touring with a band.
Xavier: Yeah, it’s really inspiring. I was feeling a bit musically constipated, I think, at the end of last year. That’s why I needed a break. I hadn’t had a break in ten years like that one. I wasn’t really inspired to get back on the road for a while. Then when this whole thing happened, I think the universe sent me these guys, and it sort of re-kindled the flame for me. We’ve only been traveling for a week now, but what we’re doing is really exciting.
R&G: You’re normally a one-man show. Do you feel comfortable on stage with the band?
Xavier: It’s cool. They’re playing around what I do, so I’m not really changing anything. I’m still making all my sounds, but Tio [Moloantoa] and Andile [Nqubezelo] are just sort of creating this other African feel around it. It gives me the freedom to play solos, which I haven’t done in the past – it’s cool. I did the solo, one-man thing for many years – the better part of ten years – and it’s nice to do something different. It’s cool that as we go we’re really sort of discovering different things. There are certain places where I’ll still play my bass lines and that’ll free Tio up to do some different stuff – some more melodic stuff on his fretless bass. I can hold down the groove. As we go, we’re exploring new things.
R&G: You’re still promoting your previous album Dark Shades of Blue. Have you written any new songs that you’ll perform on this tour?
Xavier: I’ve written a lot of new stuff. We’re actually working on a new record on the tour – in sound checks and things – with these guys. It’s really cool and exciting.
R&G: Is there a particular sound you’re trying to achieve for your next album?
Xavier: I’ve never really planned my records. They just happened. It’s interesting: I don’t really know much about them until I look back, I guess. My music just sort of comes through me, comes out and sort of happens. What’s happening now is kind of sunny and bubbly. It’s got an interesting feel. I think it’s probably going to be the brightest, bubbliest, sunniest record I’ve ever made, but it’s still going to be thick. Dark Shades of Blue represented the thickness of the time that I’ve been able to create out of my guitars and things in the last few years. All of that’s still there, but it’s got this other flavor as well.
Xavier is currently touring the US, for tour info (click here).
MP3: Xavier Rudd – Anni Kookoo
MP3: Xavier Rudd – Iron Man Jam [Live]
Download:
Xavier Rudd – Dark Shades of Blue (iTunes)
Xavier Rudd – Solace (iTunes)
Xavier Rudd – Food In the Belly (iTunes)
