Just prior to beginning a tour that bears the name of his latest release, XAVIER RUDD chats with JULIE LOWE about the new album Storm Boy, his wedding day, and the causes that currently drive him.
Where did the name Storm Boy come from?
It was inspired by the movie Storm Boy that is one of my favorite movies. The song reminds me of my childhood, thinking about the full circle of life
What other musician join you on the new album Storm Boy?
Terepai Richmond is the amazing drummer, Ian Perez on the keys, Yoseph Haile who is an Ethiopian bass player, Danielle Bennett on Cello from Brisbane, and me. Chris Bond is the producer and has done some backup vocals.
On your wedding day, you sung ‘True Love’ to your wife. Can you tell us a bit about the song?
I’ve had that song in the wings for years, it was always a special song and I knew it would be used for something special one day but wasn’t sure what. I decided to finish it off for our wedding, so I played it for Ash. The wedding day was the first time she heard it, was really special.
How has the new album been received?
Great, people love it. Lots of love and support everywhere we go. We have only done the US and Canada so far, that was electric, people are really stoked. I love this new band, probably my most favorite band in all the different line-ups that I have done.
Did you have a particular motivation or inspiration for the new album?
Just life. I have had a pretty amazing life; I get to travel the world. I see a lot of interesting situations and feel a lot of different energies around the planet. So I just write about it, my records are my journal. The last few years have been incredible in many ways, I’ve had a lot of changes in my life which have been positive. A lot of self-awareness like my major back surgery that really made me focus on myself and I met my soul mate. These last few have been powerful I have been through some pretty amazing ceremonies and spent time in Peru. All my records are special to me but this one is closest to my heart.
You often use your music to address important issues about people, culture or the environment? Are there certain issues at the moment that you are spreading the word about, like you are a big supporter in protecting the Kimberley on the west coast?
Not so much in Australia at the moment but I’m getting involved in the latest Sea Shepherd campaign that is for the reef. The state of the Great Barrier of Reef is a huge concern.
I haven’t launched it yet but we are working on a project to build dormitories in Zimbabwe for kids that walk to school from several kilometers away and basically don’t have anywhere to be as they can’t go home as it’s too far away. So we are building a dormitory that will have solar hot water, showers as they have to currently wash in the river.
We just had world vision on our tour in Canada and got a hundred kids sponsored which was great.
I am going to be an ambassador for Hunt for Health; it is about nutrition in Arnhem Land. It’s giving people the opportunity to work with your mob to learn better nutrition and practices, and white fellas in exchange can go up and learn on country from mob. A good way of fixing diet related problems in communities but also building that bridge where people get the chance to go into communities.
Xavier Rudd performs at AUGUST 2, UC REFECTORY, CANBERRA, ACT; AUGUST 3, UNI HALL WOLLONGONG, NSW; AUGUST 4, ENMORE THEATRE, SYDNEY NSW; AUGUST 5, CIVIC THEATRE, NEWCASTLE, NSW; AUGUST 10, NIGHT QUARTER, GOLD COAST, QLD; AUGUST 11, THE TIVOLI, BRISBANE, QLD [SOLD OUT]; AUGUST 12, THE TIVOLI, BRISBANE, QLD; AUGUST 17, ODEON THEATRE, HOBART, TAS; AUGUST 18, THEBARTON THEATRE, ADELAIDE, SA; AUGUST 24, THE FORUM, MELBOURNE, VIC [SOLD OUT]; AUGUST 25, COSTA HALL, GEELONG, VIC; AUGUST 27, THE FORUM, MELBOURNE, VIC; NOVEMBER 23, FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE, FREMANTLE, WA; NOVEMBER 24, 3 OCEANS WINERY, MARGARET RIVER, WA.