CONCERT: Australian surf-roots legend Xavier Rudd is one of the most interesting musicians I have interviewed – I felt very zen at the end of our conversation.
He spoke to me from the house he is building near Byron Bay in NSW and expressed his excitement for the music studio it will include, where he will be able to record his own music from home.
“It has been a crazy year, I am only home for a few weeks and then we go to Europe and hit the ground running for Splendour in the Grass,” he said.
Latest album, Nanna, features the man himself backed by The United Nations band comprising of international musicians with diverse musical influences coming together to create a roots, reggae base sound.
He said for the latest record, he “put it out there” and everything came easy and fell into place.
“It’s interesting what the universe decided to give us,” Rudd said.
The creation of the album has been a really special process and a project that he has nurtured.
“People have been digging it,” he said.
“This album is really special and it is quite churchy and ceremonial.”
The multi-instrumentalist said he could have sat and talked to me for hours about religion and the larger force of the universe.
“Many parts of Christianity has infiltrated itself in good and bad ways into different religions,” he said.
“This is a really interesting topic – we could go on for ages about.”
The band for the United Nations tour carries a real message of reconciliation, it is about people “laying down their weapons” and “letting go of guilt and shame,” he said.
Everyone in the band is spiritually powerful and there is a real equality to the band which makes the performances so unique.
When Rudd writes music he doesn’t know what will come of it – not until six months later does he realise what it means, he said.
“A lot of it comes from a place that I don’t know,” Xavier said.
“I just respect it and make sure I stay strong and humble.”
For this tour and album everything had come together at the right time spiritually, musically and financially, he said.
The emotional tones and instruments attached to the music changes as does his age and voice.
“My delivery is coming from the core of the vessel, of your heart that is wiser and more sun beaten,” Rudd said.
“My music is ahead of me.”
When The United Nations tour hits Margaret River in September audiences should expect to get their groove on and be ready to shake it.
Tickets are on sale now at xavierrudd.com/tours the show is at Three Oceans Winery in Margaret River on September 27.
