Growing up in a family of seven children in Torquay, Victoria (Australia), near the famous surfing location Bells Beach, Rudd showed a keen interest in music. While primary school-aged, Rudd used his mother's vacuum cleaner as a makeshift didgeridoo and he began playing his brother's guitar. He also played saxophone and clarinet as a child.
Before launching his solo career, Rudd began playing music as part of the band 'Xavier and the Hum'. In 2004, Rudd released Solace, his first album to be distributed by a major label.
Rudd's music is compassionate and always manages to render emotion in his fans. His songs include stories of the mistreatment of the indigenous people of his homeland; they tell of humanity, spirituality or the environment. The songs are written and sung with compassion and they urge the celebration of life.
Rudd is skilled with a variety of instruments, include guitar, shaker, didgeridoo, Weissenborn slide guitar, Tongue drum, stomp boxe, djembe, harmonica, ankle bells, and slide banjo. It's an experience to watch him perform his songs live, as he plays the guitar, digeridoo and various percussion instruments simultaneously, using a unique stage setup. But the real magic comes when he opens his mouth and his soulful voice spills upon his audience.
Rudd recalls that when he was 10, his dad took him to see Paul Simon’s Graceland tour. “I remember seeing it and knowing that that was what I was gonna do,” he says. “I had no doubt. It sort of made sense, because I’d always lived in my head, in this world of song that was my own little secret. But to see that show and that whole thing happening, I sort of felt comfortable as a human, and thought.” He learned to play the digeridoo, the 50,000-year-old wooden trumpet of the Aboriginal people, by practising on a vacuum cleaner pipe.
As a teenager, Rudd really got into songwriting. He started performing at his school, with solo gigs following. He drew inspiration from artists such as Leo Kottke, Ben Harper, Natalie Merchant and multi-instrumentalist David Lindley, as well as music from diverse sources, such as Hawaii and Native American music.
As with most solo artists, Rudd has experimented playing in a band. Though it was a short- lived experiment, as Rudd quickly found that it wasn't the right way to go for him. “What I do now is just more me,” he says. “And it sounds full.”
Quotes:
“It’s all about peace and happiness,” he says of his performances. “That’s sort of the blanket that seems to sort of settle in the room, or on the venue when I play, but I sort of feel not solely responsible. I don’t really feel like it’s me and the audience. I feel like it’s all of us, one big connection and I just happen to be channeling the energy through music. It comes from the audience and channels through me and I put it back in the audience.”
“My music is about good spirit. I’m so lucky to be able to do what I do. I’m so blessed to be able to be able to travel around and play music and connect with so many people in so many places in so many cultures. It’s a gift of life as a musician.”
After the failure of his marriage in 2009, Rudd was supported in his grief and recovery by new South African bandmates, bassist Tio Moloantoa and percussionist Andile Nqubezelo. Rudd had met Moloantoa and Nqubezelo performing at the 2008 Wiesen Nuke Festival in Austria. Rudd described his connection with Moloantoa and Nqubezelo as musical, spiritual and emotional—"I feel like they were sent to me," he said.
In 2010 Rudd bought 20 hectares of property at Koonyum Range, Mullumbimby, the location was the inspiration for the name of the album Rudd would release with Moloantoa and Nqubezelo, titled "Koonyum Sun", as Xavier Rudd & Izintaba. The album moved away from the heavier sound of Rudd's 2008 album "Dark Shades of Blue" to a more up-beat style.
"Nanna", the 2015 album Rudd released as Xavier Rudd & the United Nations champions cultural understanding and condemns racism and intolerance. It features a diverse group of musicians from Australia, South Africa, Samoa, Germany, Ireland, and Papua New Guinea.
In 2018, Rudd released "Storm Boy".
Messages
Xavier Rudd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Will you talk with me now?
Let me see through your eyes
Where there is so much life
We are biding our time
For these myths to unwind
These changes we will confront
So please beware
With every place that you had
Look to your soul
For these things that you know
For the trees that we see
Cannot forever breathe
With the changes they will confront
You know some people
They just wont understand
They just wont understand these things
Thank you for your message
But I don't understand
No, I just wont understand these things
This sacred land it has
Seen many hands, it has
Wealth and gold yet it is
Fragile and old and all the
Greedy souls just don't care to know
Of the changes it will confront
So speak out loud of the
Things you are proud
And if you love this coast
Keep it clean as it evolves
'Cause the way that it shines
May just dwindle with time
With the changes it will confront
You know some people
They just wont understand
They just wont understand these things
Thank you for your message
But I don't understand
No, I just wont understand these things
You know some people
They just wont understand
They just wont understand these things
Thank you for your message
But I don't understand
No, I just wont understand these things
So hold nice and close
The ones that get to your soul
So that when it is cold
You wont feel so alone
'Cause the roads that you take
May just crack and break
With the changes you will confront
With each gift that you share
You may heal and repair
With each choice that you make
You may help someone's day
Well I know you are strong
May your journey be long
Now I wish you the best of luck
Well I know you are strong
May your journey be long
And now I wish you the best of luck
The song "Messages" by Xavier Rudd is a call for people to be more aware of the environment and to take responsibility for preserving it. The song opens with an invitation to share and connect with one another, to gain a deeper understanding of each other's perspectives. The line "Let me see through your eyes, where there is so much life" suggests that the singer believes there is much to be learned from others' experiences and insights.
The song then turns to the topic of environmental destruction and the need for change. The lyrics allude to the fact that the earth is becoming more fragile and that people need to take care in their choices and actions. The line "For the trees that we see cannot forever breathe with the changes they will confront" shows that the singer is concerned about the future of the planet and everything that lives on it.
Towards the end of the song, Xavier sings a message of hope and resilience. He encourages listeners to hold close those who inspire them and to share their gifts with others. He wishes his listeners the best of luck on their journey and reminds them that they are strong enough to confront the changes that lie ahead.
Line by Line Meaning
So come sit down
Let's have a conversation
Will you talk with me now?
Will you share your perspective with me in this moment?
Let me see through your eyes
Help me understand the world from your point of view
Where there is so much life
In this world where there is so much to experience and learn
We are biding our time
We are waiting patiently
For these myths to unwind
For these misunderstandings to be cleared up
These changes we will confront
We will face the challenges that come with change
So please beware
Be aware of the consequences of your actions
With every place that you had
In every situation you find yourself in
Look to your soul
Listen to your inner voice
For these things that you know
For the truths you hold in your heart
For the trees that we see
For the natural world we experience
Cannot forever breathe
Will not always be able to sustain itself
With the changes they will confront
Due to the environmental changes that are unfolding
You know some people
Some individuals
They just won't understand
They won't be able to comprehend
These things
The importance of sustainability and environmental concerns
Thank you for your message
Appreciation for the information provided
But I don't understand
But I am struggling to process this information
No, I just won't understand these things
I may not have the capacity to fully comprehend these ideas
This sacred land it has
This special place
Seen many hands, it has
Has been touched and impacted by many individuals
Wealth and gold yet it is
Although rich with resources
Fragile and old
Is vulnerable to damage and destruction
And all the greedy souls just don't care to know
Many people obsessed with power and material wealth are not interested in understanding or addressing these issues
Of the changes it will confront
The ways that the environment will be impacted
So speak out loud of the
Be vocal about the
Things you are proud
The accomplishments and values you hold
And if you love this coast
If you care about protecting this area
Keep it clean as it evolves
Work to maintain and improve its environmental health as it changes
Because the way that it shines
The beauty and vibrancy of this natural world
May just dwindle with time
May decline over time if not protected and cared for
You know some people
Some individuals
They just won't understand
They won't be able to comprehend
These things
The importance of sustainability and environmental concerns
Thank you for your message
Appreciation for the information provided
But I don't understand
But I am struggling to process this information
No, I just won't understand these things
I may not have the capacity to fully comprehend these ideas
So hold nice and close
Embrace and cherish
The ones that get to your soul
The people and experiences that are most meaningful to you
So that when it is cold
So that when life is difficult
You won't feel so alone
You will have the comfort of those who care about you
'Cause the roads that you take
Because the choices you make
May just crack and break
May have unexpected challenges and obstacles
With the changes you will confront
With the challenges and transformations that life brings
With each gift that you share
With each act of kindness and generosity you demonstrate
You may heal and repair
You may alleviate pain and help restore balance
With each choice that you make
With each decision you face
You may help someone's day
You may have a positive impact on someone's life
Well I know you are strong
I believe in your strength and resilience
May your journey be long
I hope you have a fulfilling and meaningful life
Now I wish you the best of luck
I send you well wishes for your journey
Well I know you are strong
I believe in your strength and resilience
May your journey be long
I hope you have a fulfilling and meaningful life
And now I wish you the best of luck
I send you well wishes for your journey
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: XAVIER RUDD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@surfercj53
He gives off such an amazing vibe, makes me strive to be a better person. Much love
@tesschristensen4442
Saw him live. One of my favorite memories. He had the most incredible energy and vibe. Won't forget it.
@evahlemons5463
I totally just went on a journey listening to this!! Thank you❤
@sweet_alchemy0866
Beautiful, powerful. Moved mountains in me 🥰
@andrewstricker17
So hold nice and close, the ones that get to your soul, so that when it is cold, you won't feel so alone
@WeiFinder
🤗
@TheGympert
When you know that kindness is the most important word in your vocabulary. This song is soooooo incredible loving, sweet and harmonious. #warriorsforlove
@davidhorner3139
You are a legend. I love how no people have unliked this perfect beautiful this piece of music
@jeromed2
That's beautiful!
@andrewstricker17
Such a cool song. His music defies genre. So good.