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Xavier Rudd.
Xavier Rudd: an unusual name to complement an unusual sound. Everything from guitars, slip drums, sticks and the yidaki also known as the didgeridoo is used to project an infectious earthy sound impossible to sit still to. Lucky for us Rudd is in town next week promoting and playing tunes from his 'Solace' album.
"I just got home a few weeks ago. I've just finished my first headline tour of the States. Most of the shows sold out and I was really well received. I had a great time over there but I love coming home to Australia. Every time I go away I appreciate how lucky we are here, what we have and how beautiful it is."
Rudd maintains a very hectic schedule. "I'm working on a new album, trying to fit it in between tours but it's really just crazy right now." Given his unique style and his ability to play so many instruments I was curious to know just how he remembers the various tunes.
"I keep a lot of the stuff in my mind. My whole album that I'm working on is stored in my head. It's pretty incredible! I've always had that ability to store a lot on information. Sometimes I wonder if substance abuse is going to take its toll!" he jokes.
Rudd stands behind causes he believes in. He has donated a portion of ticket sales to help fund a documentary made by Michael Franti in Iraq and recently donated a song to support fundraising projects that aim to help protect Tasmania's native forests.
"These are the things that have come at me and I am in full support of. I had an indigenous woman from Tassie named Ruth Langford who came and spoke to me about a Corroboree ground, special women's country, that was being clear-cut. From there I started thinking about it and wanted to do something for Tassie. I'd like to do more and get the word out and try and get a little bit of respect for our land. It doesn't seem to be there, especially for our indigenous people. I haven't had an opportunity yet to be a really active activist but I am always open to supporting these passionate groups who do it all off their own back. Those people are idols to me. I think they're amazing!"
Given Rudd's strong views on clearfelling I thought it odd that he uses so many instruments made of timber. "The Weisenborn guitar I use is made from old growth blackwood. The blackwood was a fallen log that was left but it has been given new life through music and is now able to sing it's song," he explains. "I don't have a problem with people cutting down the odd tree to build something to live in or make an instrument. People have come up with beautiful ways to use it but as far as taking a bulldozer and clear-cutting a whole forest to make paper or toilet tissue then leaving such debris and animal death is a whole different story."
There's no doubting that Rudd is very aware of our current world situation, however he shies away from using his position in the public eye as a soapbox to tell people how it should be. "I don't like the word 'should'. I don't like to have an opinion on what other people should do on their journeys. I read something on my website where someone had written about musicians claiming to be a part of peace movements and being activists but not actually doing anything. I thought that was a pretty negative comment but at the same time it made sense. If people feel it in their hearts beyond music an beyond the message, if there's the time and the place then musicians are in the position where they can help in a big way and it would be great if people made that effort.
"My only real frustration is our Government. I think if we had a Government that educated our children about indigenous culture and how beautiful it is, and our environment and how beautiful it is and how lucky we are in Australia, that we are special people in this world in what we have. If this sort of leadership and education was coming from our Government and education departments then kids would grow to be strong independent people."
Kelly Parish
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Xavier Rudd plays at Thebarton Theatre on Thurs 2 Dec and at the Falls Festivals in Lorne and Tasmania over New Years.
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