My Denton Music interview: Australian virtuoso Xavier Rudd

by Sarah Crisman of My Denton Music

When I found out I was going to be interviewing Xavier Rudd ahead of his North American tour (and subsequent June 19th stop at Dallas' House of Blues), I spent loads of time researching his music and bio. It was terribly delightful, and I got about as excited about the interview as one can get inside of 24 hours, so when the skies opened up their wrath upon North Texas at the same time as my carefully-scheduled international phone interview, I experienced a new wave of my own stubbornness.

Crisman: So, I'm with My Denton Music here in Texas, thought we'd have a chat since you'll be in town next week.

Rudd: Is it warm there?

Crisman: Actually, we're about to have a massive thunderstorm. So if it gets extraordinarily loud, that's what's going on. It's that time of year for us when we get crazy storms with tornadoes and hail. Texas is fun like that.

Rudd: Sounds very tropical.

Crisman: Yes, we're very exotic. I was able to listen to a lot of your music today, and you've absolutely swept me off feet. Really amazing music, man.

Rudd: Thank you very much.

Crisman: You've been crawling across the planet quite extensively with your music. Your new album, Dark Shades of Blue, is the first album you've recorded in Australia in several years. How did this homecoming affect your recording process?

Rudd: At the time I started recording this album I was ready to get home. I had been traveling a lot overseas, and I was ready. It was something of a relief to get home to; I think it was nice to record in that frame of mind. Sleeping outside with my dog by the fire, swimming in the ocean in the morning, you know, I was just sort of home. I think that energy came through a bit on the album.

Crisman: Did you notice a change in your music after all that time away?

Rudd: I've just now taken the best part of five months off, and that's the longest break I've had in ten years. I needed a break, and it's interesting all the changes that have happened around these parts. I'm touring with a new band now, so I'm on this whole other new musical journey/musical path. I just think I needed the break, you know? It seemed like a few months ago I wasn't ready to go out again, which is strange for me because I'm a live, touring musician, it's what I do. But now I'm ready again! I'm excited to play with these guys, I feel very blessed. I haven't done much in Texas before Austin City Limits, but I'm really looking forward to being back, I really enjoyed the people there.

Crisman: We have some very interesting pockets. Denton, a close-knit community that's very musically-focused, we're very much like a small-town Austin. You know, heavily populated by artists and musicians, we just all bum around and collaborate and it works for us. It's a great place for other artists to pass through; you're always finding someone else to play with. Speaking of which, you've been running in the Dave Matthews/Jack Johnson crowd. They seem like a pretty chill crew, and perhaps on the slightly more relaxing end of the spectrum as far as massive touring acts go; did you boys hatch any collaborations from the road that we can look forward to?

Rudd: There are a couple of recordings out. There's a Dave Matthews recording that I released where I'm playing didgeridoo with him, it's a version of "Don't Drink the Water" out there somewhere. That was live, and that was an incredible experience, they are such incredible musicians. I played slide guitar on one of Jack's songs ...

(Loud Wailing Sirens)

Crisman: Oh! Oh, sorry. The tornado sirens are going off.

Rudd: Sorry?

Crisman: We have sirens that go off whenever there's a tornado in the area. They're just now going off.

Rudd: Really? Is there a tornado coming?

Crisman: Apparently so. (Laughs) I guess we'll find out.

Rudd: It would be interesting if you could keep the phone conversation going while you're in the middle of a tornado.

Crisman: Yes! I am committed to this conversation. I want to hear about Jack Johnson.

Rudd: (aside) I'm talking to a journalist in Denton, Texas and there's a cyclone. It's very interesting. Sorry.

Crisman: No worries, it is rather interesting. Now before I'm blown away to Oz here, would you mind telling me a bit about your early influences? I was listening to your song "Messages" and it really reminded me of Paul Simon's "Graceland."

Rudd: It's interesting you say that, I saw the Graceland tour when I was a kid. It was rare to see something like that where I grew up, there's not a lot of music coming through. I was probably ten or 12 years old. It blew my mind. I thought it was amazing. So I guess Paul Simon a bit, my dad listened to him a lot. I've always been a fan, not like a diehard fan, but always appreciated what he did. Particularly Graceland, it's such a good album. What interesting is that these new guys I'm touring with, they offer that same vibe, they've got that African 6/8 kind of feel.

Crisman: Nice! I spent the better part of the day listening to your stuff, and it was a lovely way to pass the time. I love what I do, because I'm always finding new musicians that can unlock some new world within. Well, now the wind is coming up on the porch and it's gotten kind of still. So the storm has either passed, or I'm really in trouble. I can't hear the sirens.

Rudd: Maybe the tornado picked up the sirens.

Crisman: That's exactly what's happened! But at least I'm still on the phone. This was really a treat; we are really looking forward to your show next week. I'll be sure to tell everyone to be there, but I should probably go before I get hit in the head by a tree branch or a cow.

Rudd: Yeah, it would be better if you didn't get hit in the head by a cow.

Crisman: Yes, it is on my list of Things to Not Do Today.

Rudd: It was really nice chatting with you, come say hi at the show, it would be nice to meet you.

Crisman: I would love to. We'll see you on the 19th.

Rudd: Thank you, my sister!

For more on Xavier, check out xavierrudd.com. No Crismans were harmed in the taping of this interview.