Xavier Rudd’s life is like many others – it goes through changes and progresses as he learns life lessons.
Where Xavier's life differs from most is his ability to express his journey.
The roots, folk artist’s ninth studio album, ‘Storm Boy’, (released 25 May) is based on his life since his highly acclaimed 2012 offering, ‘Spirit Bird’. “I got married two years ago, so I met someone who was a beautiful new part of my life,” beams Xavier.
“Spiritually I’ve learnt some things you know, things have shifted as they do all the time.”
As it always has been for Xavier, inspiration is everywhere especially in the natural world. “I just write songs everywhere. Usually I’m outdoors, I’m pretty ADD so I’m always wanting to be outside doing stuff.
“I do a lot of writing when I’m running. I’ll have an idea in my head and sort of develop it as I'm running and I’ll sort of run in the rhythm of what it is; surfing and just doing stuff, I’m constantly inspired by my family [as well] and the things that mean a lot to me in the world.”
Where Xavier is most at home with his music is performing to people. That said, he says over the years he has learned the importance, and the joy, of the studio.
For him, ‘Storm Boy’ is a culmination of that journey. “I feel like this album, you can see that experience come through in this record and I’m really proud of it.”
Still, when you boil it down, the stage is where he wants to be. “I’ve [always] been a live artist; it’s what I started out doing, recording was always secondary really for me. I would just record when I had a space in the schedule to just sort of thump down [sic] some new music.
“In the old days, I would play new music at the shows and gauge reaction from people. That’s how I honed my craft, to see what people were into, and still today it’s been about the live journey, the live experience.”
The singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist is keen to share his new work with the world, but says he understands people want to hear the classics as well.
“I’d love to play all the new stuff. I know that I can’t, so there’s certain songs that are really special to me: ‘Best That I Can’, ‘Storm Boy' the title track, ‘Feet On The Ground’, ‘Keep It Simple’… I can already tell they’re songs the crowd is gonna love and they’re gonna be good moments.”
Xavier’s ‘Storm Boy’ Australian tour will span ten dates throughout August and culminates in a show at Geelong’s Costa Hall not far from where the artist grew up, something he says is always memorable. “My mum is from Geelong and I’ve got history there that goes back years and years.
"You know, my Grandfather came from Holland and met my Grandmother near there in a little town so it’s always special to go back there and play… It’s always nice to go home.”
'Storm Boy' is available now.
Xavier Rudd Tour Dates
Thu 2 Aug - UC Refectory (Canberra)Fri 3 Aug - Uni of Wollongong
Sat 4 Aug - Enmore Theatre (Sydney)
Sun 5 Aug - Civic Theatre (Newcastle)
Fri 10 Aug - NightQuarter (Gold Coast)
11-12 Aug - The Tivoli Theatre (Brisbane)
Fri 17 Aug - Odeon Theatre (Hobart)
Sat 18 Aug - Thebarton Theatre (Adelaide)
Fri 24 Aug - Forum Melbourne
Sat 25 Aug - Costa Hall (Geelong)
Mon 27 Aug - Forum Melbourne
