Last night Xavier Rudd played Dublin in The Academy in a city centre smothered in the white stuff. Before the gig our man Kevin Donnellan had a quick chat with the Aussie before his gig.
Xavier Rudd interview by Kevin Donnellan
Try describing Xavier Rudd to someone who hasn’t come across him before. You’ll generally notice a look of disdainful disinterest spreading across their face. “He’s kind of a one-man-band and he plays the didgeridoo but it’s kind of ‘World Music’ he makes, you know?” He does sound like someone who only hemp-wearing permanent back-packers should like, doesn’t he? Of course us fans know that he’s actually one of the best live performers out there. But God it’s hard convincing someone of that without having a few of his tracks to hand.
He’s also a seriously prolific performer, his six studio albums since 2002 have been supplemented with fairly relentless touring. Catching up with him for a phone chat last week he was beginning to think a bit of a break might be in order. “I’ve always had a tight touring schedule, then when we have a window we record,” he says. “I’d like to give myself more time with the next one.”
Rudd is like you imagined all Australians were like back when the only Aussies you knew appeared on Home & Away. All surfer-style nonchalance tinged with a bit of a new age hippyness. He sounds like he’s lying down (possibly on a surfboard) and is pretty happy about it. I wish I could think of some completely shocking question to see if he could ever get riled up. But I don’t. I want him to like me – he has that effect. The last, and only, time I met him he was playing Time in Naas (strange I know) and he had the same effect.
I try what could be a touchy issue for some; musical labels. Rudd is generally referred to as a World music musician. Definitely not the coolest genre going, is he unhappy with the label? “Nah I’m happy with it man, its fine,” he virtually shrugs down the phone. “I would probably consider it World music if I was to give it a genre myself.”
Back before the recession some German dude was quoted in a Irish newspaper saying that since the boom Irish people were far more comfortable in themselves. “They don’t always ask you what you think of Ireland anymore,” I think I remember him saying. Anyway the boom is well and truly over so we can go back to being needy. What do you think about Ireland then Xavier? Do you like it? DO YOU?
“Yeah mate, I love Ireland, it’s always fun” he obliges. “Dublin’s a cracking city, they’re always something cool happening. And I like the people, you know it’s a good place to be, I feel a connection there.”
So what can we expect from his latest appearance on our shores? “I personally use a few different things these days, changed the light set-up expanded a little bit, got an african rhythm section.” he says. The African rhythm section appeared on the latest album, ‘Koonyum Sun’ and it’s clear Rudd loves the sound they’ve brought to his latest record as well as the live show.
And that’s about it really. No rants. No awkward silences either. Just a pretty laid-back dude, happy with his career and comfortable in his own skin. The show was probably great, it generally is. Hopefully there was a few more skeptics in the crowd getting converted.