Xavier Rudd - Just Play

Channeling the spirits of the land and his never-ending journey, inspirational Aussie multi-instrumentalist Xavier Rudd's soon to be released fourth album, White Moth encompasses both the sonics of the studio and the energy of his live show to produce a powerful accumulation of songs, as a reflection of himself and the journey. Rudd opens up his soul to Kevin Bala about the new album.

“It was a bit more special, in every way! I feel stoked with this one, a lot of my other recordings I’ve done them really quick and rushed them, and for this one I had a bit of space to work on it, we had more people involved and it was a really good set up. I got to do things that I dreamed of doing but haven’t been able to do in the studio; experimenting with things. We were able to go up to Arnhem Land and do some recording up there. I had an Elder – an ‘Indian Tree Guy’ from Canada sing on it. It’s a bit more worldly, and I just feel like I covered all the bases of my journey that have been really influential on my life, this album has captured all of that.”

“It’s just sort of a reflection of my journey over the past 2-5 years or even more. It’s all really positive, good stuff that’s come out. I’m pretty stoked with everything that’s come out for this album, it’s really sort of a colourful vibe, really bright. It just makes me feel good (laughs).”

Rudd has made a name for himself worldwide as a 'One-Man-Band'. His set-up is huge, consisting of didgeridoos, slide guitars, stompboxes, and various percussion instruments. Rudd explains that this fascination came about when he was residing in a van in Western Canada, about 6 years ago, playing regular gigs and getting increasing attention from those who kept coming back to see him. In attempting to create and blend his own unique sounds, he maintains that it was very fateful and organic.

“I was always in my own world of blending sounds and trying to make more sounds on my own. Just over time, I’ve like built this world around me of stuff that I use. I never sorta planned it, it’s just been over time, like different instruments come to me at different times and then figuring out how to play them together. Now it’s just this sorta big thing (laughs). Now I have a budget, and people to carry it around, so I’m a bit greedy with it now, I got all this shit (more laughs). “

“On stage, I use about 32 lines, it’s all live, I don’t use anything digital, so its all miked or direct guitar lines. I have 3 yirdaki’s (didgeridoo's) on a stand that I can interchange, I take about 9 of them on the road, I have 11 different slide guitars and acoustic guitars that I do different things on. Some of them have bass strings, you know ‘cos I play the bass lines with thumb, and I pick the melodies with my fingers.”

Rudd explains however, that his palette is not complete. Due to issues of cost and safety, it is not always feasible to take his huge assortment of instruments.

“There’s always something that I’d like to take but my managements always asking me if I can cut down. You know its pretty expensive to take all my shit everywhere! It’s all pretty delicate and wooden, you can’t get pretty hardcase’s for them. There’s a lot of weight that we freight so there’s always something that I wish I could take, but I don’t end up taking.”

The 27 year old is a veteran of large festivals, and as a performer and a punter he states that “they are all amazing in their own way”. Already in 2007 he has played a number of festivals around Europe and the U.K including St. Gallen fest in Switzerland. Rudd shares with us what he thinks formulates a good festival experience.

“I just think festivals are really important in this time we are in. There’s a lot of negativity in the world; global warming and terrorism and media hypes that surround all those things, and the people I guess feel a little helpless. Festivals are a time where everyone can let go, and get back to the roots of human spirit and good energy, I think that’s the most important thing about festivals.”

“...People really bring that good energy and let it go at festivals, and I think it sorta filters through everybody. Everyone brings their own good energy and it sorta affects everyone else and it makes this kinda melting pot of energy. At a festival everyone is sorta there to share, everyone’s opened up their spirits, it’s a big unity thing, and everyone sorta comes open. It’s really interesting how that transforms when you get a huge amount of human beings with that frame of mind and all with open souls.”

After a long stint overseas, Rudd finds it refreshing to be coming back home.

“I’ve been overseas for a long time playing and I haven’t done a lot in Australia, so I’m looking forward to that energy, and the Easter vibe, it’s always amazing and infectious. It puts me in a good space for my travels overseas and I gotta lot of that coming up afterwards. I’m looking forward to that, and just seeing a bit of the country again.”

Rudd ends the interview giving his advice for the younger generation of aspiring musicians with these simple, yet powerful words, which has really paved the way for his own music and life.

“Just Play. Don’t think. Don’t worry about the who’s, the when’s, the how’s and all that stuff - just play.”

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