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".
Solace
Xavier Rudd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And welcome, to the east
Farewell to the one who raked, the sand beneath my feet
Thank you for the space we shared, and the heart and soul my friend
I will see you through the colours, between the mountains as the sun decends
Oh we twisted and we reflected upon a grin
Common ground we walked upon, with common feelings & common things
Peace to you for now we'll share again, we'll share again
Farewell to the west now
My mind is open to the east
To all the new faces, new minds & things to see
I am alone here, and my heart at times it weeps
You will see me through the colours, as the sun sinks in the sea
Oh we twisted and we reflected upon a grin
Common ground we walked upon, with common feelings & common things
Yes it is a cruel world, but there is solace amongst the sin
Peace to you for now we'll share again, we'll share again
Oh we twisted and we reflected upon a grin
Common ground we walked upon, with common feelings & common things
Yes it is a cruel world, but there is solace amongst the sin
Peace to you for now we'll share again, we'll share again
We will share again
We'll share again
Hmmm, hmmm, oh my friend we'll share again
Oh we will share again
Xavier Rudd's song, Solace, is a reflective and emotive piece that depicts the end of one chapter in life and the beginning of another. The lyrics "Farewell to the west now, and welcome to the east" reflect a physical journey or relocation, but also symbolise the close of one era and the commencement of a fresh start. The leaving behind of a loved one, symbolised by "Farewell to the one who raked the sand beneath my feet," is also mourned. As with any significant life change, there can be a sense of loss and heartache as one navigates the transition.
Despite the challenges and injustices that exist in life ("Yes it is a cruel world"), there is a message of hope and comfort in the "solace amongst the sin." The common ground shared between people and the connections that can be forged despite differences ("Common ground we walked upon, with common feelings & common things") are what provide solace and healing. The repetition of "we'll share again" emphasises the idea that relationships can endure distance and change, and that one day there will be a reunion.
Overall, Solace is a poignant and soulful song that invites the listener to reflect on the inevitable changes in life and the importance of cherishing connections with others.
Line by Line Meaning
Farewell to the west now
Saying goodbye to the past and moving on to the future
And welcome, to the east
Embracing new opportunities and experiences
Farewell to the one who raked, the sand beneath my feet
Acknowledging a past love who helped shape our life
Thank you for the space we shared, and the heart and soul my friend
Expressing gratitude for the love and connection we shared
I will see you through the colours, between the mountains as the sun descends
Looking back on the good times and cherishing the memories
Oh we twisted and we reflected upon a grin
Reflecting on the times we laughed and smiled together
Common ground we walked upon, with common feelings & common things
Shared experiences and emotions brought us together
Yes it is a cruel world, but there is solace amongst the sin
Acknowledging the harsh realities of life, but finding comfort in small moments of peace
Peace to you for now we'll share again, we'll share again
Wishing peace and hoping to reconnect in the future
My mind is open to the east
Keeping an open mind towards new opportunities and experiences
To all the new faces, new minds & things to see
Excitement and anticipation towards meeting new people and discovering new things
I am alone here, and my heart at times it weeps
Feeling lonely and melancholic in a new, unfamiliar place
You will see me through the colours, as the sun sinks in the sea
Finding comfort in the beauty of nature
We'll share again
Expressing the hope and desire to reconnect with a past love or friend
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: XAVIER RUDD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind