Aussie Artist Xavier Rudd Dishes to Broadside

Story by Broadside Correspondent Marian McLaughlin.

All the way from Australia, multi-instrumentalist Xavier Rudd is on the east coast this week for his U.S. tour before heading back to his home country for a November tour.

His newest album, Dark Shades of Blue, is layered with sounds from his slide guitars, soulful vocals and other worldly instruments such as udu drums and didgeridoos. But Xavier Rudd thrives on stage, surrounded by what he calls a planet of his collection of instruments.

I was able to catch him before his Boston show on Sept. 11, getting an in-depth perspective on his live performances, newest songs, and more.

BROADSIDE: Is there any environment that you prefer to play at, such as festivals, large arenas, or intimate concert halls?
RUDD: Nowhere in particular, but I do enjoy festivals. I love to be outside, where there are trees and such. But I’ll perform anywhere, just so that I can play music.

BROADSIDE: Speaking of festivals, I missed my chance to see you at Bonnaroo 2007. But I see that you are coming to the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 14. I’ll try to make it out to your show.
RUDD: You definitely should. You should come by and say hello.

BROADSIDE: When you perform live, your setup looks so intricate. Did you arrange everything in a certain way so it’s easier to play live?
RUDD: No, not really, it’s just a combination of stuff that I’ve collected from traveling around the world. Everything just keeps adding up, taking on its own form.

BROADSIDE: It certainly does. When you’re on stage, your arrangement looks like some huge, surreal creature.
RUDD: (Laughs) It basically is.

BROADSIDE: And you’re at the brains of it to bring it to life.
RUDD: (Laughs again) I suppose so. I’ve just sort of built this world around myself.

BROADSIDE: You have always been known as a multi-instrumentalist, but on your latest album, Dark Shades of Blue, I can count three different variations of slide guitars, which I find impressive, being a guitarist myself. There’s a Weissenborn lap slide, a resonator, and a chaturganui. Are you more drawn to a certain one?
RUDD: I don’t really have a favorite, I love all my instruments, but I guess I really like the Weissenborn. Playing it slide style is more comfortable, since it lies in my lap, allowing me to do all sorts of other things at the same time. I’m also drawn to slide guitars because when doing yoga or meditation, I’m close to the ground, pushing down on the earth. I feel the same way when playing the Weissenborn because of its high action. Since the strings are more raised with the high action, I’m pushing down all this energy, and its coming right back off from the earth.

BROADSIDE: You seem like a very spiritual and worldly person, from all the various instruments you play to the names that you’ve titled some of your songs. For instance, my favorite song on your new album is definitely “Guku.” I can’t tell you why I love it, its just so moving. Does “Guku” have a meaning or translation?
RUDD: That song is dedicated to Guku, my Aboriginal brother, who passed away last year. “Guku” means Honey ant. Honeypot ants live in Northern Australia, and you can eat their abdomens, because they taste real sweet, like honey.

BROADSIDE: Your other album, White Moth, seems to be a tribute to the Aboriginal people too, as well as to the spirit of your wife’s grandmother.
RUDD: Oh yes, it definitely is.

BROADSIDE: I noticed on Dark Shades of Blue, you wife sings on the song “Shiver.” Her voice is so airy and ethereal. It’’s really beautiful.
RUDD: Well, she’s a beautiful woman. She also did the cover art for the album.

BROADSIDE: That’s really wonderful. I love the artwork and layout of your album. It’s a huge collage of images and such, and its really personal, especially the last song “Home,” where you can hear the sound of birds and a little child saying “Hi, Daddy.”
RUDD: We put that on the end of the album, ‘cause its just so nice to be home.

BROADSIDE: Do you spend a lot of time touring?
RUDD: About eight to 10 months out of the year, but we break it up. About three months here, two months there, sort of like that.