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Q&A with Australian Multi-Instrumentalist – XAVIER RUDD!
Posted On 01 Apr 2015
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Tag: Adelaide, All Access, All Access Music, All Access Music Group, Angus & Julia Stone, Artist Interview, Aussie, Australia, Australian, Bluesfest, Boy & Bear, Brisbane, Coves, Dark Shades Of Blue, Errol Brown, Family Of The Year, Follow The Sun, Food In The Belly, Fremantle, fun., Germany, GUSTER, independent, indigenous, Indigenous Australia, Koonyum Sun, Melbourne, Nanna, Nettwerk, Nettwerk Music Group, Nettwerk Recordings, Nettwerk Records, Old Crow Medicine Show, Oz, Papua New Guinea, Run River North, Salt X, Samoa, Sinéad O'Connor, Solace, South Africa, Spirit Bird, Sydney, Terry McBride, The United Nations, Tuff Gong, Tuff Gong Studios, Universal, Universal Records, West Coast Blues N Roots Festival, White Moth, William Fitzsimmons, Xavier Rudd, Xavier Rudd & The United Nations, Xavier Rudd and The United Nations
Nettwerk Music Group is thrilled to announce the signing of Australia’s multi-instrumentalist Xavier Rudd to its label roster. Rudd is the latest addition to Nettwerk’s expanding label roster, which includes artists like Guster, Family Of The Year, Passenger, Run River North, Boy & Bear, Coves, Sinéad O’Connor, William Fitzsimmons, as well as catalogue artists like Angus & Julia Stone, Old Crow Medicine Show and fun.
“It’s very exciting to have the opportunity to work with an artist whose musical and spiritual values match that of my own. We look forward to helping Xavier get his message out,” says CEO of Nettwerk Music Group, Terry McBride.
On March 17, Rudd released Nanna, a career-defining album that puts the once solo artist on his feet, playing guitar center stage, as he fronts Xavier Rudd & The United Nations – a one-people musical force. In the past, Rudd’s onstage one-man-band setup included a half-dozen guitar choices, three didgeridoos and various styles of native drum. With the release of Nanna, Rudd explores the next chapter in his extensive career…the role of frontman, amidst some of the best players in the world. Featuring guitar, bass, drums, percussion, keys, horns, flute and backing vocals, the aptly titled Xavier Rudd & The United Nations brings together musicians from all corners of the globe, representing the diverse cultures of Australia, Indigenous Australia, South Africa, Samoa, Germany and Papua New Guinea. The band is symbolic of the message that all people of the world can come together, respect the ancient ways and return to spirit.
“This is an important year on many levels. I’m excited to be working with Nettwerk in bringing this special album to the world; an album that’s been a long, long time coming,” says Rudd.
In the spring, the band is set to perform at several music festivals, with a full North American headline tour to be announced in the coming days.
Mixed by living legend Errol Brown at Tuff Gong Studios, Nanna earns its place in Rudd’s impressive discography. Rudd’s 2002 debut album, To Let, introduced a sound that was a mix of guitars, yidakis (didgeridoos), stomp box and percussion, blues harp and vocals. In the years that followed, Rudd has released platinum-selling album, Solace (2004), Food In The Belly (2005), White Moth (2007), Dark Shades Of Blue (2008), Koonyum Sun (2010) and the triumphant 2012 album, Spirit Bird, led by the wonderfully delicate “Follow The Sun.
All Access Music writer, Nicole DeRosa had a chance to catch up with Xavier during some down time for him. Read more in their interview below!
Hi Xavier! Where does this interview find you today? What’s on the agenda today besides our interview?
I’m in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales sitting by the fire.
For those not familiar with you and your music, how did you get your start in music?
It sort of grew organically, you know? I never really had a catalyst or anything. It grew from something that was private and intimate with myself to something that became the same thing but well known and it just sort of travelled like that.
You will be releasing your latest studio album, NANNA this Autumn. What did you learn between albums that you felt you wanted to infuse into NANNA?
Well you learn something every time you record, you know, because recording is a different process then playing live. It’s a different art capturing the sound on tape or on disk, whatever format you record it on… I brought 8 albums worth of studio recording experience into Nanna and working with all the other instruments was new for me in a lot of ways and very strong.
Can you share with me what your inspiration was for your current single, “Come People”?
It was almost like a dream of flashbacks to a few particularly powerful power centers on our earth being Peru, Kauai, The Kimberley and Australia, home, the East Coast. It was like a very fast message that I was receiving on whether as human beings we were at all connected with our traditional line or not. The concept is kind of like the earth calling the people back.
Who are your musical influences?
So many – I’m influenced by everything I see and hear and I have seen and heard a lot of music in my time.
Do you remember the first album you bought for yourself?
I can’t remember exactly what was first, but I remember a Cars record that was given to me on tape when I was a kid, it was their latest record at the time. I remember buying INXS – Kick on vinyl pretty early on too.
What was the first song you fell in love with and why?
The songs of the birds because they’re never out of tune, their songs are incredible.
Who would your dream collaboration be with, living or dead?
I’d love to have a bash around with old uncle Jimmy Hendrix, but I’d probably just watch.
Who is in your current playlist? Any artists, musicians or genres we might be surprised to find in there?
Midnite, Chet Faker’s new record, and 50 Cent.
What’s on tap next for you, Xavier? What are you most excited about in 2015?
Touring this magnificent, powerhouse of a band we’ve put together and shaking everybody’s bootys!
Learn more about XAVIER RUDD HERE .
