Music is medicine or so says Oz music's original shaman, Xavier Rudd.
The circus that has been 2021 proved to be an opportune blessing for Xavier. He's written a new album at home, spent time with family, and generally found himself taking a very holistic outlook on the chaos the world has ensued.Now, Xavier – and indeed, the music community at large – are in need of a good tonic. Xavier's got the remedy.
The music he's been working on isn't necessarily a follow-up to 'Storm Boy', Xavier’s most recent longplayer which dropped in 2018, but does in fact see the indie-folk artist go back to a point somewhere near his beginnings.
"If it was a follow-up to anything, I’d say it would be to 'Spirit Bird' [2012]," Xavier says. "It's the first solo album I've made since then.
"I did everything myself, even to the point where the title track of the album is a song I wrote when I made 'Spirit Bird' and I didn't put it on that release.
"I've kept it for personal reasons, then, as my journey's continued over the last ten years, it seems like it's time to put it out."
A decade is a long time – given Xavier's output and activity – to sit on a song, an idea. There's something about the sonic message of 'Spirit Bird', though.
"It's like, yes, this new album is similar, sort of, but I've next-levelled everything from a production point of view," Xavier says, choosing his words carefully so as not to drop too many hints.
"It's something I've always wanted to do, but I've needed time, which I've had. "It's a mix of that folky stuff I do, and it's a reflection on the ways of the world. I've experimented with an analogue synthesiser right through it, which I've never done before. It was really interesting and fun."
Even though Xavier found himself leaning backward – he had to in order for him to be able to move forward, so to speak – there was still room to grow. "Always," Xavier agrees.
"We're always learning through music, we're always inspired by different things. When I'm on the road and my gear is in cases and getting freighted and set up for shows, getting pulled down, I don't get a lot of time to spend with it, just f...ing around with new stuff.
"This year, in the past where I've made albums and had a break in my touring schedule, I'll go into the studio and it's done – this time, I've had time, and I could gradually do it.
"Time has given me time to be more creative and better," Xavier concludes sagely.
He's exhausted his resources, finally, meaning Xavier now finds himself for the first time in his career once this forthcoming album cycle concludes, with an entirely fresh palette – an exciting prospect, he says. "It's a different time in the world, it'll be an interesting time to go out on tour.
"There's a lot going on. A lot of people are divided, it's been a really tough time for people. But my heart says go out and do it. And I feel like people need music, music is medicine.
"I've been gifted this opportunity to share music in the world, it's what I do, and that's what I'll continue to do. I think people need it right now."
On the road Xavier will go, because let's face it, we need that connectivity, that spirit of live music, just to heal the divide that's been created among us.
Xavier's appearances at touring festival SummerSalt, beginning in February, provides the perfect opportunity for Xavier et al. "It'll be nice to get back out there and do it again," he says.
"I've only played one or two shows in the last few years, [so] I'm ready to get into it."
As for the new material, Xavier says there's a decent chance of him performing those works at SummerSalt. "There will be another track coming out before the festival, so I'll play all those, and then play some more."
Xavier Rudd @ SummerSalt 2022
Sat 5 Feb - Royal Botanical Gardens (Hobart)Sun 6 Feb - Royal Botanical Gardens (Hobart)* sold out
Sun 20 Feb - Queen Elizabeth Park (Gold Coast)* sold out
Sat 26 Feb - Stage 88 (Canberra)
Sun 27 Feb - North Gardens (Ballarat)
Sun 6 Mar - Esplanade Park (Fremantle)
Sun 13 Mar - Don Lucas Reserve (Sydney)
Sun 20 Mar - Glenelg Beach (Adelaide)
Sat 26 Mar - Nowingi Place (Mildura)
Sun 27 Mar - M.O. Moran Reserve (Melbourne)
Xavier Rudd @ Sunset Sounds
Sat 9 Apr - Rochford Wines (Yarra Valley)Sat 23 Apr - Roche Estate (Hunter Valley)
Xavier Rudd also plays 2022 Bluesfest (Byron Bay) 16 April and 2022 BASSINTHEGRASS (Darwin) 21 May.
