You haven’t heard music
until you’ve heard Australian songwriter/surfer Xavier Rudd. That’s because
what he does transcends the modern-day definition of music, broadening the
horizons of your sonic experience. In some ways, it’s a leap forward in creative
energy, and in others it’s a journey back to the roots of humanity in search of
music’s purest form. But however you look at it, through his smooth, disarming
voice, his mastery of an entire field of instruments ranging from slide guitar
to didgeridoo, and his spiritual connection to the world around him, Rudd
masterfully weaves together the best qualities of music from all corners of the
globe, creating songs that are instantly relatable.
Now that he’s teamed up with
South African rhythm kings Izintaba, comprised of Tio Moloantoa and Andie Nqubezelo,
for his sixth studio album, Koonyum Sun,
Rudd may have just produced some of his most monumental music yet. The best
news of all is that the group has just embarked on an East Coast-heavy U.S.
tour that will be grooving into a city near you soon. Before he hit the road,
Xavier checked in with EasternSurf.com to meditate about growth, inspiration, and the roots of the music.
ESM: There
are a lot of opinions floating around out there as to what your music is all
about, but we want to hear it straight from you: how would you describe your
sound?
Xavier Rudd: It’s a blend of culture and story really, and we touch on a lot of different
styles. I’d say it’s world music. All cultures are different but also similar,
so there’s a real spiritual interaction that happens when you combine music
from different parts of the world. I’m playing with two guys from South Africa
now, so they definitely bring their culture and spirit. They have a story of
apartheid and struggle, and in some ways it’s a culture that’s not unlike my
aboriginal culture from back home that I learned so much from.
ESM: How
did you get hooked up with Tio and Andie of Izintaba, and what has your
chemistry been like as a group?
XR: We met
in Austria about two years ago, and we’ve been playing together now for about a
year. We didn’t really talk about playing together initially. We just had a
mutual respect for each other and what we were doing musically. Then about a
year later, when my drummer left, we decided to get together. Once we did, it
was heavy, and we’ve been together ever since. We’re a solid group onstage and
off, and they’ve been really good friends to me as well. It’s been wonderful
the way that we’ve connected.
ESM: Your
newest album, Koonyum Sun, was your
first recording with Izintaba, and it also came at a time when you had just
dealt with some turmoil in your personal life. Did these factors affect your
work?
XR: This
album is definitely different. All my albums are quite unique because they’re a
reflection of different times and spaces, but this one does stand out a bit because,
thanks to Tio and Andie, it has that African feel. I also think it’s definitely
the most emotional and heavy record I’ve made. I’m proud of it. I’m proud of
the sound, I’m proud of the collaboration, and I’m proud of the journey that I
took leading up to it. It was a necessary record for me in many ways, and it’s
definitively a special one. It’s a record I’ll never forget, but at the same
time, I’m always moving forward, and I’m already excited about making the next
one.
ESM: What’s
your process like when you sit down to write an album?
XR: My
music just comes through me, and I don’t really think about it as what I want
people to hear. It’s the same as it was back when I was writing music that no
one was listening to. Now people are actually listening, which is a blessing,
but the music is the same. It just comes out of me, and then it is what it is.
If people take something positive from it, then that’s a huge compliment and an
honor for me, but I don’t really look for people to take anything from it. I
have songs that are special to me because of what they are and when I wrote
them, but it’s just a reflection of what’s coming through me.
ESM: So
what kinds of things inspire you to write music?
XR: Mostly
life. The gift of life is probably the most important thing for anyone and it’s
the biggest blessing. For me that’s what is the most inspiring, and then for
anyone who travels, it’s all the people, cultures, and places as well. Surfing
also fits into everything I do, and it’s definitely in my music. I write so
much of my music while I’m surfing or spending time in the water, that it’s
really there in everything. I just don’t get as much time to surf as I used to.
I wish I did.
ESM: You’re
well known for that strong connection to the environment, and surfing fits into
that well. But how are nature and music connected in your mind?
XR: Music
has been part of nature from the start. It’s in the trees every day. It’s in
the oceans. Music is everywhere. Music is nature, and our human reflection of
it has been going on for a long, long time. It has existed and connected
culture and people for thousands of years through everything from oppression
and starvation to positive change. And even though music has evolved to become
what it is today, it’s essentially that same feeling and that same connection.
ESM: And
finally, the question that all of us Right Coasters have been waiting for: how
are you feeling about your upcoming East Coast tour stops?
XR: I
can’t wait. I’m happy to be here, and I’m excited to see all the people. I hope
they dig it. There’s always been a really strong reaction here on the East
Coast, and I’m really lucky that there always seems to be a great vibe in the
room when I play. I think it’s kind of groovy. It’s like church, with everyone
dancing around and feeling the free love.
XAVIER RUDD & IZINTABA DATES:
8/24 Wolf Trap……………………………………………….. Vienna, VA
8/25 Irving
Plaza…………………………………………….. New York, NY
8/26 Theater of the Living Arts…………………………….. Philadelphia,
PA
8/27 House of Blues………………………………………… Cleveland, OH
8/28 Royal Oak……………………………………………… Detroit, MI
8/30 Exit In…………………………………………………… Nashville, TN
9/1 Windjammer……………………………………………. Charleston, SC
9/3 House of Blues………………………………………… Orlando, FL
9/4 Culture Room………………………………………….. Ft. Lauderdale, FL
9/5 State Theatre………………………………………….. St. Petersburg, FL
9/7 Orange Peel…………………………………………… Asheville, NC
9/8 Headliners……………………………………………… Louisville, KY
9/9 Barrymore………………………………………………. Madison, WI
9/10 Harmony Park………………………………………….. Clarks Grove, MN
9/11 Vic Theatre……………………………………………… Chicago, IL
9/13 Higher Ground………………………………………….. Burlington, VT
9/14 Wilbur Theatre………………………………………….. Boston, MA
9/16 Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival……………………… Fredericton,
Canada
9/17 Halifax Forum…………………………………………… Halifax, Canada
9/18 St. Francis Xavier University………………………….. Antigonish,
Canada
For all things Xavier Rudd & Izintaba, visit
www.xavierrudd.com
