Xavier Rudd

Xavier Rudd

Xavier Rudd in concert
Background information
Born (1978-05-29) 29 May 1978
Origin Torquay, Victoria, Australia
Genres Folk, blues, indie folk, folk rock, reggae
Occupation(s) Musician, singer-songwriter
Instruments Vocals, guitar, harmonica, yidaki, banjo, lap steel guitar, percusion
Years active 2000–present
Labels Universal Music Australia
SaltX/Universal/Fontana Records (US/Canada)
Website xavierrudd.com
Notable instruments
Weissenborn slide guitars,
yidaki

Xavier Rudd (born 29 May 1978) is an Australian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Several of Rudd's songs incorporate socially conscious themes, such as spirituality, humanity, environmentalism and the rights of Aboriginal peoples.

Background and early life

Xavier Rudd grew up in Jan Juc,[1] near Torquay, Victoria.[2] He attended St Joseph's College, Geelong.[3] His maternal grandfather was Dutch, born in Tilburg, a town in the Netherlands, before migrating to Australia.[4] One of his grandmothers was from an Irish potato-growing family and grew up in Colac, Victoria.[5] His father was born with Aboriginal, Irish and Scottish heritage,[2][6] and Rudd has Wurundjeri background,[7] one of his great grandmothers was an Aboriginal Australian, and her child (Rudd's paternal grandmother) was taken away from her.[8]

Rudd showed a keen interest in music growing up in a family of seven children.[9][10] While primary school-aged, Rudd used his mother's vacuum cleaner as a makeshift didgeridoo and he began playing his brother's guitar.[11] He also played saxophone and clarinet as a child.[12] Rudd's brother can still play guitar, but went on to become an accountant in Orlando, Florida.[13]

As a child, Xavier Rudd sold recycled wood through his own furniture business.[14] Immediately after finishing school, Rudd traveled to Fiji. He lived in villages around the country for nine months, returning to Australia at age 19.[9]

Career

1998–2002: Early career to debut studio album

Before launching his solo career Rudd began playing music as part of the band 'Xavier and the Hum'. He drew inspiration from artists such as Leo Kottke, Ben Harper, Natalie Merchant and multi-instrumentalist David Lindley, as well as music from diverse sources, such as Hawaiian and Native American music.[15][16] His music first took him overseas when he traveled to Whistler, British Columbia—Rudd was in a band and would play each night after a day of snowboarding.[17]

Rudd was in Canada when the September 11 attacks happened.[18] Rudd felt "spun out" watching the American media coverage, including graphic imagery of the destruction of the World Trade Center. Rudd wrote the song The 12th of September, which would feature on his first studio album To Let, about the day after the attacks. In 2006, discussing the song, Rudd said:

That's what the song's about, the world waiting. All of a sudden there was an attack and there was these people who were equally as toxic that were going to retaliate. No one could really do anything about it. It's about the next day and that's why I called it the 12th of September.[18]

2003–05: Solace to Food in the Belly

In 2004, Rudd released Solace, his first album to be distributed by a major label—Universal Music Australia. Rather than inviting guest artists to join him on the record, Rudd performed all the instrumentation for the album alone with only a few overdubs. Instruments included didgeridoos, slide guitars, stomp boxes, djembe drums, slit drums, and the harmonica.[9] In his live-show, Rudd came to be renowned for his 'one man band' performance.[19]

Rudd recorded Food in the Belly in mid-2004 whilst on break from an extensive north American tour. The recording was made in May 2004 at Bowen Island, part of the Greater Vancouver Regional District.[20][19]

2007: White Moth

The song White Moth was written about a moth that followed Rudd's son Joaquin for several hours on his mother's 30th birthday. Rudd thought it was the spirit of his then wife's grandmother.[21] Rudd and his family were holidaying to celebrate the occasion on an island off Sri Lanka.[22][23]

In 2007, Rudd partnered with Clif Bar's GreenNotes program to create the "Better People Campaign".[24] The campaign was about expressing gratitude to the people in the world taking steps to make positive change.[25]

2008–11: From Dark Shades of Blue to collaboration with Izintaba

Black Water the first track on Rudd's 2008 album Dark Shades of Blue was named after one of Lutken-Rudd's paintings.[11] The album saw Rudd introduce a heavier sound, using electric guitars in place of acoustic guitars and creating darker more somber tones.[26] He recorded with Dave Tolley, a percussionist drummer, who he had previously collaborated with for White Moth and Food in the Belly.[27]

Reflecting on Dark Shades of Blue, Rudd told media he felt the heavier sound was a "precursor for things that might come... I feel like my music is ahead of me all the time.[28] Rudd was referring to his and Lutken's divorce, which was finalised in 2009.

After the failure of his marriage, Rudd was supported in his grief and recovery by new South African bandmates, bassist Tio Moloantoa and percussionist Andile Nqubezelo. Rudd had met Moloantoa and Nqubezelo performing at the 2008 Wiesen Nuke Festival.[29] Rudd described his connection with Moloantoa and Nqubezelo as musical, spiritual and emotional—"I feel like they were sent to me," he said.[30]

In 2010 Rudd bought 20 hectares of property at Koonyum Range, Mullumbimby, the location was the inspiration for the name of the album Rudd would release with Moloantoa and Nqubezelo, Koonyum Sun.[31] The album moved away from the heavier sound of Dark Shades of Blue to a more up-beat style.[32]

2012: Spirit Bird

Rudd's album Spirit Bird sampled 30 species of Australian birds.[33] The song Spirit Bird came about after an encounter with a red-tailed black cockatoo in the Kimberley. His encounter with the cockatoo coincided with Rudd experiencing a powerful rush of imagery and emotion.[34]

A lot of that [album] grew out of me giving myself to that country up in the Kimberley and that country gave it back to me... I'd been on a bit of a journey and Spirit Bird represents that.[35]

In 2011, Rudd underwent emergency back surgery,[36] to repair three herniated disks, bone spurs and nerve damage.[37] Rudd wrote the track Comfortable In My Skin, on his 2012 album Spirit Bird, when he was suffering from major nerve pain before his surgery.[38]

2015: Rudd joins with the United Nations

In his collaboration with the United Nations, Rudd championed cultural understanding and condemned racism and intolerance.[39] To record an album together, Rudd and the United Nations worked with producer Errol Brown.[40]

The song Shame, by Xavier Rudd and the United Nations, released on the album Nanna in 2015, was inspired by conversations about racism surrounding AFL player Adam Goodes, an Aboriginal football player who was repeatedly booed at matches.[41][42][43] Rudd had previously declared his support for Goodes addressing the AFL Players' Association 2014 Season Launch.[44]

At the time of writing the song Creancient, Rudd was working with a Shaman in Peru. He participated in several ceremonies, including one that involved vomiting and experiencing hallucinations and another involving mud bathing. Rudd described the song as something that flowed out of him over a week while he felt like he was outside of himself, looking at his ego from a distance.[8]

In 2015, Rudd was forced to cut his north American tour for Nanna short to have disc replacement and fusion surgery in his lower back, having experienced chronic pain over several months.[45]

In November 2015, Rudd's song Let Me Be featured in an Australian TV commercial promoting KFC, a large fast food restaurant chain specialising in fried chicken.[46][47] Many fans used social media to complain about the inclusion of the song on the commercial.[48][49][50] PETA responded that they hoped that Rudd had not approved the use of his music for the advertising.[51]

Personal life

Leisure and inspiration

Rudd likes to spend time in the Australian bush often, and champions the traditional Aboriginal way of life.[52][35] His songs include stories of the mistreatment of the indigenous people of his homeland.[10] Rudd has taken part in several Aboriginal ceremonies.[53] In 2003, he was adopted into the Dhuwa mob in north east Arnhem land.[11][54] He has also spent time with people from several North American indigenous groups—the Cree, Mohawk and Iroquois.[55]

Rudd is a keen surfer, having started when he was five or six years old,[56] and says at times surfing inspires his music.[57][58] He also enjoys snowboarding, one of the few activities he wears shoes for.[59]

Family

Rudd met Marci Lutken, an artist from Canada, when she was backpacking in Fitzroy in 1999.[11] The two married soon after, and had two sons, Joaquin and Finojet.[18] Rudd obtained Canadian dual citizenship.[60] Lutken-Rudd ended her and Rudd's relationship in 2009,[28][61] and the pair listed their off-grid, solar powered home in Jan Juc for sale.[62]

As at June 2015, Rudd was building a house near Byron Bay, which will include a music studio.[63]

Vegetarianism

View of Harris Ranch—the beef farm that inspired Rudd to change his diet and become a vegetarian

Rudd became a vegetarian after passing Harris Ranch,[64] California's largest factory farm, during a United States tour.[65][66] Rudd described in an interview with PETA how the experience made him change his diet, saying:

[The animals] stood crammed together on this piece of land. They could hardly move as the area was too small for all those animals. Plus, they'd already eaten or trampled down the grass and all the feces were just left there. They were standing in their own waste and—what I found worse—even had to eat it because the workers didn't offer them anything else. I asked the driver about it and he said, "Well, that's California's biggest beef producer." I could still smell it after we had driven for another 30 kilometers. That was when I knew it was the right choice to go vegetarian.

Rudd was nominated for PETA's annual "World's Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrity" award in 2007.[67] In 2008, PETA named him sexiest Australian male vegetarian.[68]

Activism and causes

In February 2009, Rudd performed at a public rally in opposition to residential development in Torquay.[69]

Rudd received the 'Rock the Boat Award' in 2009 for his support of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.[70] Rudd is friends with Canadian environmentalist Paul Watson, who founded Sea Shepherd.[71] In January 2010, Rudd was one of the last passengers aboard Sea Shepherd ship Ady Gil, days before it sunk after a collision with the MV Shōnan Maru 2 Japanese whaling security vessel.[72]

In 2012, Rudd was outspoken against Colin Barnett's plan to open up the Kimberley to mining operations.[71] He joined the Save the Kimberley movement to save James Price Point.[73][74]

In 2014, Rudd performed at the Bentley anti-gas blockade campsite,[75] in support of the Lock the Gate Alliance.[76] He had previously travelled to the Doubtful Creek coal-seam gas test drilling site in February 2013 to voice his concerns about the gas drilling, saying "our government is hopeless ruthless and toxic in terms of protecting our land."[77] The protestor's actions at the Bentley Blockade, where they blocked the delivery of oil and gas drilling equipment for weeks, led the New South Wales Government to suspend Metgasco’s drilling license.[78][79]

Live performances

Rudd has become a known name at music festivals worldwide including the Bonnaroo Music Festival, the High Sierra (2004 & 2007) and Wakarusa (2005), moe.down (2003), Summer Sonic, Lowlands, Rock Werchter among others. He has toured with artists including Jack Johnson, Dave Matthews, Ben Harper, Good Old War, G. Love & Special Sauce, and Rodrigo y Gabriela.[80]

Discography

Studio albums

Year Title Chart positions
[81]
 Certifications
(sales threshold)
AUS NLD
2002 To Let – –
  • AUS: Gold
2004 Solace 13 –
2005 Good Spirit 16 56
  • AUS: Gold
2005 Food in the Belly 16 56
  • AUS: Platinum
2007 White Moth 6 –
2008 Dark Shades of Blue 5 –
2010 Koonyum Sun (with Izintaba) 6 –
2012 Spirit Bird 2 38
  • AUS: Gold
2015 Nanna (with The United Nations) 8 –

Live albums

References

  1. ↑ Oksenhorn, Stewart (15 January 2008). "For Xavier Rudd, music is all about making connections". The Aspen Times.
  2. 1 2 Constantin, Pierre (29 July 2015). "Xavier Rudd: keeping the aboriginal spirit alive". cafébabel. Archived from the original on 11 August 2015.
  3. ↑ "Xavier Rudd & The United Nations unite a musical movement with debut album Nanna". Geelong Advertiser (News Corp). 16 March 2015.
  4. ↑ "Xavier set to give Moncrieff good vibes". Bundaberg News Mail (APN Australian Regional Media). 8 July 2015. Archived from the original on 28 August 2015.
  5. ↑ "Xavier Rudd's new album Nanna a tribute to grandmothers". 28 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2 August 2015.
  6. ↑ "Xavier Rudd interview (part 1)" on YouTube
  7. ↑ "Xavier Rudd". Faster Louder. 25 August 2008. Archived from the original on 30 August 2015.
  8. 1 2 Seroukas, John (August 2015). "The Interview: Xavier Rudd". University of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 30 August 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 Lobley, Katrina (23 April 2004). "Ridgy Didge". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Archived from the original on 3 November 2007.
  10. 1 2 "Xavier Rudd’s Biography – Free listening, videos, concerts, stats and pictures at". Last.fm. 2013-11-26. Retrieved 2015-05-04.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Murfett, Andrew (22 August 2008). "Feelings of blue". Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 26 September 2008.
  12. ↑ "Xavier Rudd brings the White Moth tour home" (PDF) (Press release). 16 July 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2007.
  13. ↑ Edwards, Amy (3 September 2010). "Xavier Rudd enjoying brotherly love in US". Newcastle Herald. Archived from the original on 30 August 2015.
  14. ↑ "United as one sound Xavier Rudd's on foot to happiness". The Gladstone Observer. 25 June 2015. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015.
  15. ↑ "Xavier Rudd Biography". Sortmusic.com. Retrieved 2015-05-04.
  16. ↑ Harrison, Tom (1 June 2006). "Rudd found doing what he loves". The Province. Retrieved 2007-01-03.
  17. ↑ "Xavier Rudd talks travel, inspiration and what makes a 'real' journey". Geckos Adventures. Archived from the original on 16 June 2015.
  18. 1 2 3 Gottehrer, Zoe (3 April 2006). "Incendiary interview Xavier Rudd". Incendiary Magazine. Archived from the original on 30 August 2015.
  19. 1 2 Ridley, Dan (19 October 2005), Xavier Rudd - Band in one man, The Dwarf, archived from the original on 2 February 2016
  20. ↑ Murphett, Andrew (19 December 2005). "Xavier Rudd". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Archived from the original on 30 November 2015.
  21. ↑ Summers, Nicole (16 November 2007). "White Moths and Aboriginal spirits: An interview with Xavier Rudd". Faster Louder. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016.
  22. ↑ "Rudd sings for rights". The Age (Fairfax Media). AAP. 29 May 2007. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015.
  23. ↑ Karki, Anish (2 November 2007). "White Moth: Xavier Rudd's spiritual journey". 3rd Degree (Edith Cowan University). Archived from the original on 5 March 2011.
  24. ↑ "Aussie musician Xavier Rudd chats about coming to America and greening his tour". Grist. 16 February 2008. Archived from the original on 12 May 2012.
  25. ↑ Better People, Clif Bar & Co., 2007, archived from the original on 2 June 2007
  26. ↑ Raper, Dan (18 August 2008). "Xavier Rudd: Dark Shades of Blue". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016.
  27. ↑ Xavier Rudd says it's time to smile with his new album Koonyum Sun, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 28 April 2010, retrieved 3 February 2016
  28. 1 2 Wildsmith, Steve (11 May 2011). "Singer-songwriter Xavier Rudd goes back to his roots on newest music". The Daily Times (Maryville, Texas).
  29. ↑ Cuthbertson, Ian (22 April 2010). "Roots of a psychic revival". The Australian (News Corp).
  30. ↑ "XAVIER RUDD TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM “KOONYUM SUN” IN APRIL: Ground Breaking Multi-instrumentalist Currently Touring in Europe" (Press release). ANTI. 2010. “It’s been the most inspirational musical experience of my life,” shares Rudd about his writing with Tio and Andile. “We have an undeniable connection – musically, spiritually, and emotionally. I feel like they were sent to me.”
  31. ↑ "Old dairy now cream of crop". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). 27 April 2010. Archived from the original on 29 April 2010.
  32. ↑ Xavier Rudd Tour, SurfGirl Magazine, 13 January 2010, archived from the original on 3 February 2016
  33. ↑ "Xavier Rudd's stoked for home tour". Busselton Dunsborough Times. 11 September 2012. Archived from the original on 8 September 2015.
  34. ↑ Cashin, Miranda (16 August 2012). "Xavier answers the call of Spirit Bird". Sunshine Coast Daily (APN Australian Regional Media). Archived from the original on 28 December 2015.
  35. 1 2 Drever, Andrew (27 September 2013). "Rudd flies under Australia's radar". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Archived from the original on 28 August 2015.
  36. ↑ Newstead, Al (16 June 2012). "Xavier Rudd". Tone Deaf. Archived from the original on 30 August 2015.
  37. ↑ Zanotti, Marc (8 June 2012). "Xavier Rudd – Soothing Messages of Urgency". Archived from the original on 19 November 2012.
  38. ↑ Schlansky, Evan (14 May 2012). "Song Premiere: Xavier Rudd, "Comfortable In My Skin"". American Songwriter. Archived from the original on 3 December 2014.
  39. ↑ Vangopoulos, Katina (6 August 2015). "Xavier Rudd and the United Nations bringing the world together at the Darwin Festival". NT News. Archived from the original on 10 August 2015.
  40. ↑ Watson, Graeme (27 February 2015). "Xavier Rudd Ready for Blues and Roots". OUTinPerth.
  41. ↑ McGrane, Danielle (5 August 2015). "Songs address Adam Goodes' booing saga". MSN. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015.
  42. ↑ Sieger, Sandi (5 August 2015). "Xavier Rudd Unveils New Song ‘Shame’, Calls For End To All Racism". Onya Magazine. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015.
  43. ↑ "Xavier Rudd releases new anti-racism song". The Music. 6 August 2015. Archived from the original on 18 August 2015.
  44. ↑ McInerney, Sam (24 March 2014), Xavier Rudd steals the show, AFL Players Association, archived from the original on 24 March 2015
  45. ↑ "Fans cluck and chuck Rudd for KFC ad". The Northern Star. 7 December 2015. Archived from the original on 13 December 2015.
  46. ↑ "KFC brings back ‘accidentally authentic’ Home Cricket Ground cricket campaign". mUmBRELLA. 30 November 2015.
  47. ↑ Farquhar, Peter (8 December 2015). "'Australia's Sexiest Vegetarian', Xavier Rudd, has given his voice to a KFC ad". Business Insider Australia. Archived from the original on 12 December 2015.
  48. ↑ Aubusson, Kate (7 December 2015). "Xavier Rudd fans angry as his song appears in KFC ad". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Archived from the original on 12 December 2015.
  49. ↑ Griffiths, Neil (8 December 2015). "PETA Urge Xavier Rudd To Reconsider 'Supporting' KFC". The Music. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  50. ↑ "Xavier Rudd Slammed By Fans Over Controversial KFC Ad". Tone Deaf. 7 December 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015.
  51. ↑ Moskovitch, Greg (8 December 2015). "PETA Respond To Xavier Rudd’s Controversial KFC Ad". Tone Deaf. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015.
  52. ↑ "Rudd relation? Hell no!". Sunshine Coast Daily (APN Australian Regional Media). 4 December 2007. Archived from the original on 10 October 2014.
  53. ↑ "Xavier Rudd: The Highs and Lows of Life in Music". Martyr Magazine. 21 May 2010.
  54. ↑ McLoughlan, Tyler (28 August 2013). "It's A Spirit Thing". The Music (Street Press Australia). Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  55. ↑ Dunstan, Sarah (20 September 2013). "Rudd balances highs and lows". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015.
  56. ↑ People who surf the multifaceted minstrel: Xavier Rudd, 22 July 2010, archived from the original on 20 December 2014
  57. ↑ Hyndman, Nancy (20 September 2002). "Xavier Rudd says Whistler inspired new didge song". Pique. Archived from the original on 8 September 2015.
  58. ↑ Burron, Susan. "Xavier Rudd at home away from home". Coastal BC. Archived from the original on 30 March 2015.
  59. ↑ Dwyer, Michael (7 May 2004). "Sole man". Archived from the original on 29 August 2013.
  60. ↑ Guests & Specials: Xavier Rudd, Australian Broadcasting Commission, 4 September 2010, archived from the original on 18 September 2012
  61. ↑ Bridges, Alicia (16 April 2010). "Rudd bounces back in style". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 30 August 2015.
  62. ↑ Xavier's eco retreat, Off Grid, 2 July 2009, archived from the original on 30 August 2015
  63. ↑ Eadie, Chloerissa (17 June 2015). "In conversation with Aussie surf roots legend Xavier Rudd". Bunbury Mail.
  64. ↑ Rocker Xavier Rudd Gets Real, PETA Asia-Pacific, archived from the original on 13 May 2008
  65. ↑ "Abbie Cornish and Xavier Rudd our sexiest vegetarians". News.com.au. 18 June 2008. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015.
  66. ↑ "Xavier Rudd interview". Incendiary Magazine. 28 March 2006. Retrieved 2015-05-04.
  67. ↑ World's Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrities, PETA, archived from the original on 29 June 2007, retrieved 29 June 2007
  68. ↑ Metlikovec, Jane (18 June 2008). "Abbie Cornish, Xavier Rudd voted hottest vegetarians". Herald Sun (News Corp).
  69. ↑ Dowling, Jason (21 February 2009). "Surf Coast proposal provokes wave of protest". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Archived from the original on 11 September 2015.
  70. ↑ Chellingworth, Suzanne (3 July 2012). "Saviour Rudd". Nextmedia. Archived from the original on 30 August 2015.
  71. 1 2 "I feel like I’m ready to roar, an interview with Xavier Rudd". Circles on the Water. 2012. Archived from the original on 30 August 2015.
  72. ↑ Hendicott, James (18 January 2010). "Xavier Rudd interview". State Magazine. Archived from the original on 8 September 2015.
  73. ↑ Inman, Michael (9 August 2012). "Xavier Rudd: The spirit of the land". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Archived from the original on 30 August 2015.
  74. ↑ "Reef on Rudd's mind". The Whitsunday Times. 15 August 2015. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015.
  75. ↑ "Xavier Rudd latest support act for Bentley protesters". The Northern Star. 29 April 2014.
  76. ↑ "Don't Frack with Xavier Rudd". The Northern Star. 1 May 2015. Archived from the original on 18 May 2014.
  77. ↑ Hargraves, Melissa (19 February 2013). "Huge turnout for CSG-free picnic concert" (PDF). The Byron Shire Echo. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 September 2015.
  78. ↑ Travers, Andrew (12 June 2014). "Xavier Rudd (and Friends) to play Mammoth Festival". The Aspen Times.
  79. ↑ Validakis, Vicky (15 May 2014). "Metgasco’s drilling permit suspended, referred to ICAC". Australian Mining. Archived from the original on 8 June 2014.
  80. ↑ "Xavier Rudd - Biography". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2015-05-04.
  81. 1 2 "Xavier Rudd - Music Charts". Acharts.us. Retrieved 2015-05-04.
  82. ↑ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2005 Albums". Aria.com.au. Retrieved 2015-05-04.
  83. ↑ "ARIA: 2007 Albums". Aria.com.au. 2007-12-31. Retrieved 2015-05-04.

External links

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