Xavier Rudd with Bobby Alu
For Xavier Rudd, writing music and living his life are one and the same. "I'm literally just singing about the things that are going on around me," he says of his sublime and soaring indie-folk. Environmental work, activism, veganism, spiritualism, surfing, family camping trips in the bush and dog walks on the beach; everything Rudd does, he pours into song. The result is a personal sound that strikes a universal note.
The Australian multi-instrumentalist's new album title track best encapsulates this idea. Backed by the gentle strum of acoustic guitar, on 'Storm Boy', Rudd sends out a postcard of a sun-drenched life lived outdoors: "Freedom of the heart is what we crave / When we sit by the river with a cup of tea / Watch the movement of the tide in the gentle breeze," he sings, in his comfort-blanket voice.
It's just one of many highlights on a record that celebrates strength and stability at their most powerful and fundamental. In the picture-perfect video for 'Walk Away', Rudd is captured swimming in lakes, catching the surf and strumming his guitar, while booming bass drums amp up the track's near-transcendent quality.
One specific moment seems to sum up the record for Rudd, an album which he describes as "pondering" and "more personal" than previous efforts. It's a line where Rudd's spirituality really comes to the fore: "Kookaburra calls just like he knows / And I call a ride back yes I'm home / He's been with me he's watched me grow / Through those rainy days and those rocky roads."
Six years have passed since Rudd's last solo release, Spirit Bird, and a lot of things have happened in that time. Storm Boy tracks the last five or six years of his journey, his "awakening" and of all the things that "have made sense" along the way.
Most notably, he's fallen in love. "It's definitely a theme on the record," agrees Rudd. And if Spirit Bird signalled the beginning of his spiritual self-awakening, Storm Boy arrives at the conclusion. "Life feels strong and solid for me now... and this record is in a different space. It's a solid space. I feel like I've come to the end of that chapter where I've learned a bunch of lessons and I've been shown a bunch of things spiritually."
Hailing from Australia's surf hotspot Torquay, Rudd kickstarted his career in 2002 with the now classic album To Let, before going on to release seven studio LPs over the next thirteen years: Solace (2004), Food In The Belly (2005), White Moth (2007), Dark Shades Of Blue (2008), Koonyum Sun (2010), Spirit Bird (2012), and his first album with The United Nations, Nanna (2015).
"I've had a great career of mucking around with different sounds... so every record you learn a little bit here and there," says Rudd, whose new album tips its hat to his love of reggae and blues as much as it feels palpably more symphonic in sound than his previous LP, the collaborative Nanna.
Storm Boy marks a landmark shift in the ARIA-nominated star's working process. Produced by Chris Bond (Ben Howard, Tom Speight) and mixed by Tim Palmer (Pearl Jam, Bowie, U2), it's the first time Rudd has ever handed over the reigns completely to a producer. A brave move, but one that ultimately served him well. "Everything I wrote just had a sprinkle of magic dust on it," he says of working with Chris Bond.
But there's more to Xavier Rudd than making music: his peace-promoting messages travel way beyond the recording studio. As an activist, Rudd champions the rights of indigenous Australians, carrying out vital work to raise awareness of Aboriginal culture and preserve his own Wurundjeri heritage. He's also a prolific environmentalist, having performed at rallies and demonstrations including 2014's Bentley anti-gas blockade campsite.
Recent years have seen Rudd use his platform to share the benefits of mindfulness, while he is also a committed vegan and has worked with US animal rights charity Peta on more than one occasion, earning the accolade of Australia's Sexiest Vegetarian.
All of this aside, ultimately it's about connecting with his fans. "It's a huge compliment for me when there are people in other countries, in other languages, singing my lyrics and singing my songs," says Rudd. And with a massive intercontinental tour lined up for this year - his biggest one to date - Rudd will bring Storm Boy to life on the stage, captivating a whole new legion of fans along the way.
~~~~~~~~~~
Since the very beginning, Xavier Rudd's ability to connect with people has been his most powerful gift. The more he has toured the world, the more hearts he has touched and the more of the world he has put back into his music. Now, fronting a band aptly named The United Nations, Xavier Rudd has assembled a lineup of musicians from around the world as a one-people musical force. Making their debut in 2015, Xavier Rudd And The United Nations finds the iconic Australian solo artist in full band mode for the first time in a long and successful career, and introduces new album Nanna to Xavier's diverse and acclaimed discography...Enthralling audiences with his ability to wield so many instruments at once, Xavier'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. Something distinctly new, yet tied back through time to the spirit of our ancestors. With a sound established, Xavier's 2004 sophomore album, Solace, was testament to the power of his songwriting abilities. Solace debuted in the top 20 of the ARIA charts and was met as an instant classic; going platinum and earning Xavier two ARIA nominations, with three of its songs - Let Me Be, Shelter and Solace - voted into triple j's Hottest 100.Only a year later, Xavier was receiving his third ARIA nomination, this time for third album Food In The Belly. Celebrated for Xavier's abilities to effortlessly weave genres together - from the reggae sway of The Mother, to the irresistible tribal jam of Manã - Food In The Belly impacted strongly in Australia and Europe, landing Xavier on the Dutch album charts for the first time. Xavier's gold-selling follow-up, White Moth, continued on this path of international success. Released in 2007 on Epitaph sister label ANTI-, White Moth reached #30 on the US Billboard charts and earned Xavier another ARIA nomination back home.Nudging ahead of White Moth one spot to peak the ARIA charts at #5, 2008's Dark Shades Of Blue was Xavier's biggest musical departure, yet resulted in massive fan and critical acclaim. Gritty, dark and introspective, the album connected deeply with fans, and reintroduced Xavier as formidable lap steel player. 2010's Koonyum Sun - recorded as trio Xavier Rudd And Izintaba - was a return to lighter shades. Featuring a new sound courtesy of a collaboration with bassist Tio Moloantoa and percussionist Andile Nqubezelo - yet abundant in the blues'n'roots charm of his earliest work - Koonyum Sun brought Xavier Rudd full circle.Debuting at #2 on the ARIA charts, Xavier's 2012 album Spirit Bird was the triumphant pinnacle of of his entire solo career - capturing the most beautiful aspects of his voice, his songs and his spirit. Led by the wonderfully delicate Follow The Sun, Spirit Bird saw Xavier Rudd yet again tour the world, bringing together old fans and new, regardless of their culture or country of origin. Now, this ability to connect is at the heart of Xavier Rudd And The United Nations - a band with a strong message of all people coming together around the globe to return to spirit, respect the ancient ways and protect the Earth and the very essence of creation.Mixed by Errol Brown at Tuff Gong Studios, Nanna is Xavier's ninth studio album, but his first with Xavier Rudd And The United Nations... finding one of the great solo artists our time fronting a full band with impeccable results. Once again diving into new musical waters, while still holding true to the music in his heart, Xavier Rudd has added another remarkable milestone to his already epic journey; solidifying his place as one of Australia's greatest artists, activists and spirits.
show less
For Xavier Rudd, writing music and living his life are one and the same. "I'm literally just singing about the things that are going on around me," he says of his sublime and soaring indie-folk. Environmental work, activism, veganism, spiritualism, surfing, family camping trips in the bush and dog walks on the beach; everything Rudd does, he pours into song. The result is a personal sound that strikes a universal note.
The Australian multi-instrumentalist's new album title track best encapsulates this idea. Backed by the gentle strum of acoustic guitar, on 'Storm Boy', Rudd sends out a postcard of a sun-drenched life lived outdoors: "Freedom of the heart is what we crave / When we sit by the river with a cup of tea / Watch the movement of the tide in the gentle breeze," he sings, in his comfort-blanket voice.
It's just one of many highlights on a record that celebrates strength and stability at their most powerful and fundamental. In the picture-perfect video for 'Walk Away', Rudd is captured swimming in lakes, catching the surf and strumming his guitar, while booming bass drums amp up the track's near-transcendent quality.
One specific moment seems to sum up the record for Rudd, an album which he describes as "pondering" and "more personal" than previous efforts. It's a line where Rudd's spirituality really comes to the fore: "Kookaburra calls just like he knows / And I call a ride back yes I'm home / He's been with me he's watched me grow / Through those rainy days and those rocky roads."
Six years have passed since Rudd's last solo release, Spirit Bird, and a lot of things have happened in that time. Storm Boy tracks the last five or six years of his journey, his "awakening" and of all the things that "have made sense" along the way.
Most notably, he's fallen in love. "It's definitely a theme on the record," agrees Rudd. And if Spirit Bird signalled the beginning of his spiritual self-awakening, Storm Boy arrives at the conclusion. "Life feels strong and solid for me now... and this record is in a different space. It's a solid space. I feel like I've come to the end of that chapter where I've learned a bunch of lessons and I've been shown a bunch of things spiritually."
Hailing from Australia's surf hotspot Torquay, Rudd kickstarted his career in 2002 with the now classic album To Let, before going on to release seven studio LPs over the next thirteen years: Solace (2004), Food In The Belly (2005), White Moth (2007), Dark Shades Of Blue (2008), Koonyum Sun (2010), Spirit Bird (2012), and his first album with The United Nations, Nanna (2015).
"I've had a great career of mucking around with different sounds... so every record you learn a little bit here and there," says Rudd, whose new album tips its hat to his love of reggae and blues as much as it feels palpably more symphonic in sound than his previous LP, the collaborative Nanna.
Storm Boy marks a landmark shift in the ARIA-nominated star's working process. Produced by Chris Bond (Ben Howard, Tom Speight) and mixed by Tim Palmer (Pearl Jam, Bowie, U2), it's the first time Rudd has ever handed over the reigns completely to a producer. A brave move, but one that ultimately served him well. "Everything I wrote just had a sprinkle of magic dust on it," he says of working with Chris Bond.
But there's more to Xavier Rudd than making music: his peace-promoting messages travel way beyond the recording studio. As an activist, Rudd champions the rights of indigenous Australians, carrying out vital work to raise awareness of Aboriginal culture and preserve his own Wurundjeri heritage. He's also a prolific environmentalist, having performed at rallies and demonstrations including 2014's Bentley anti-gas blockade campsite.
Recent years have seen Rudd use his platform to share the benefits of mindfulness, while he is also a committed vegan and has worked with US animal rights charity Peta on more than one occasion, earning the accolade of Australia's Sexiest Vegetarian.
All of this aside, ultimately it's about connecting with his fans. "It's a huge compliment for me when there are people in other countries, in other languages, singing my lyrics and singing my songs," says Rudd. And with a massive intercontinental tour lined up for this year - his biggest one to date - Rudd will bring Storm Boy to life on the stage, captivating a whole new legion of fans along the way.
~~~~~~~~~~
Since the very beginning, Xavier Rudd's ability to connect with people has been his most powerful gift. The more he has toured the world, the more hearts he has touched and the more of the world he has put back into his music. Now, fronting a band aptly named The United Nations, Xavier Rudd has assembled a lineup of musicians from around the world as a one-people musical force. Making their debut in 2015, Xavier Rudd And The United Nations finds the iconic Australian solo artist in full band mode for the first time in a long and successful career, and introduces new album Nanna to Xavier's diverse and acclaimed discography...Enthralling audiences with his ability to wield so many instruments at once, Xavier'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. Something distinctly new, yet tied back through time to the spirit of our ancestors. With a sound established, Xavier's 2004 sophomore album, Solace, was testament to the power of his songwriting abilities. Solace debuted in the top 20 of the ARIA charts and was met as an instant classic; going platinum and earning Xavier two ARIA nominations, with three of its songs - Let Me Be, Shelter and Solace - voted into triple j's Hottest 100.Only a year later, Xavier was receiving his third ARIA nomination, this time for third album Food In The Belly. Celebrated for Xavier's abilities to effortlessly weave genres together - from the reggae sway of The Mother, to the irresistible tribal jam of Manã - Food In The Belly impacted strongly in Australia and Europe, landing Xavier on the Dutch album charts for the first time. Xavier's gold-selling follow-up, White Moth, continued on this path of international success. Released in 2007 on Epitaph sister label ANTI-, White Moth reached #30 on the US Billboard charts and earned Xavier another ARIA nomination back home.Nudging ahead of White Moth one spot to peak the ARIA charts at #5, 2008's Dark Shades Of Blue was Xavier's biggest musical departure, yet resulted in massive fan and critical acclaim. Gritty, dark and introspective, the album connected deeply with fans, and reintroduced Xavier as formidable lap steel player. 2010's Koonyum Sun - recorded as trio Xavier Rudd And Izintaba - was a return to lighter shades. Featuring a new sound courtesy of a collaboration with bassist Tio Moloantoa and percussionist Andile Nqubezelo - yet abundant in the blues'n'roots charm of his earliest work - Koonyum Sun brought Xavier Rudd full circle.Debuting at #2 on the ARIA charts, Xavier's 2012 album Spirit Bird was the triumphant pinnacle of of his entire solo career - capturing the most beautiful aspects of his voice, his songs and his spirit. Led by the wonderfully delicate Follow The Sun, Spirit Bird saw Xavier Rudd yet again tour the world, bringing together old fans and new, regardless of their culture or country of origin. Now, this ability to connect is at the heart of Xavier Rudd And The United Nations - a band with a strong message of all people coming together around the globe to return to spirit, respect the ancient ways and protect the Earth and the very essence of creation.Mixed by Errol Brown at Tuff Gong Studios, Nanna is Xavier's ninth studio album, but his first with Xavier Rudd And The United Nations... finding one of the great solo artists our time fronting a full band with impeccable results. Once again diving into new musical waters, while still holding true to the music in his heart, Xavier Rudd has added another remarkable milestone to his already epic journey; solidifying his place as one of Australia's greatest artists, activists and spirits.
Xavier Rudd with Bobby Alu
For Xavier Rudd, writing music and living his life are one and the same. "I'm literally just singing about the things that are going on around me," he says of his sublime and soaring indie-folk. Environmental work, activism, veganism, spiritualism, surfing, family camping trips in the bush and dog walks on the beach; everything Rudd does, he pours into song. The result is a personal sound that strikes a universal note.
The Australian multi-instrumentalist's new album title track best encapsulates this idea. Backed by the gentle strum of acoustic guitar, on 'Storm Boy', Rudd sends out a postcard of a sun-drenched life lived outdoors: "Freedom of the heart is what we crave / When we sit by the river with a cup of tea / Watch the movement of the tide in the gentle breeze," he sings, in his comfort-blanket voice.
It's just one of many highlights on a record that celebrates strength and stability at their most powerful and fundamental. In the picture-perfect video for 'Walk Away', Rudd is captured swimming in lakes, catching the surf and strumming his guitar, while booming bass drums amp up the track's near-transcendent quality.
One specific moment seems to sum up the record for Rudd, an album which he describes as "pondering" and "more personal" than previous efforts. It's a line where Rudd's spirituality really comes to the fore: "Kookaburra calls just like he knows / And I call a ride back yes I'm home / He's been with me he's watched me grow / Through those rainy days and those rocky roads."
Six years have passed since Rudd's last solo release, Spirit Bird, and a lot of things have happened in that time. Storm Boy tracks the last five or six years of his journey, his "awakening" and of all the things that "have made sense" along the way.
Most notably, he's fallen in love. "It's definitely a theme on the record," agrees Rudd. And if Spirit Bird signalled the beginning of his spiritual self-awakening, Storm Boy arrives at the conclusion. "Life feels strong and solid for me now... and this record is in a different space. It's a solid space. I feel like I've come to the end of that chapter where I've learned a bunch of lessons and I've been shown a bunch of things spiritually."
Hailing from Australia's surf hotspot Torquay, Rudd kickstarted his career in 2002 with the now classic album To Let, before going on to release seven studio LPs over the next thirteen years: Solace (2004), Food In The Belly (2005), White Moth (2007), Dark Shades Of Blue (2008), Koonyum Sun (2010), Spirit Bird (2012), and his first album with The United Nations, Nanna (2015).
"I've had a great career of mucking around with different sounds... so every record you learn a little bit here and there," says Rudd, whose new album tips its hat to his love of reggae and blues as much as it feels palpably more symphonic in sound than his previous LP, the collaborative Nanna.
Storm Boy marks a landmark shift in the ARIA-nominated star's working process. Produced by Chris Bond (Ben Howard, Tom Speight) and mixed by Tim Palmer (Pearl Jam, Bowie, U2), it's the first time Rudd has ever handed over the reigns completely to a producer. A brave move, but one that ultimately served him well. "Everything I wrote just had a sprinkle of magic dust on it," he says of working with Chris Bond.
But there's more to Xavier Rudd than making music: his peace-promoting messages travel way beyond the recording studio. As an activist, Rudd champions the rights of indigenous Australians, carrying out vital work to raise awareness of Aboriginal culture and preserve his own Wurundjeri heritage. He's also a prolific environmentalist, having performed at rallies and demonstrations including 2014's Bentley anti-gas blockade campsite.
Recent years have seen Rudd use his platform to share the benefits of mindfulness, while he is also a committed vegan and has worked with US animal rights charity Peta on more than one occasion, earning the accolade of Australia's Sexiest Vegetarian.
All of this aside, ultimately it's about connecting with his fans. "It's a huge compliment for me when there are people in other countries, in other languages, singing my lyrics and singing my songs," says Rudd. And with a massive intercontinental tour lined up for this year - his biggest one to date - Rudd will bring Storm Boy to life on the stage, captivating a whole new legion of fans along the way.
~~~~~~~~~~
Since the very beginning, Xavier Rudd's ability to connect with people has been his most powerful gift. The more he has toured the world, the more hearts he has touched and the more of the world he has put back into his music. Now, fronting a band aptly named The United Nations, Xavier Rudd has assembled a lineup of musicians from around the world as a one-people musical force. Making their debut in 2015, Xavier Rudd And The United Nations finds the iconic Australian solo artist in full band mode for the first time in a long and successful career, and introduces new album Nanna to Xavier's diverse and acclaimed discography...Enthralling audiences with his ability to wield so many instruments at once, Xavier'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. Something distinctly new, yet tied back through time to the spirit of our ancestors. With a sound established, Xavier's 2004 sophomore album, Solace, was testament to the power of his songwriting abilities. Solace debuted in the top 20 of the ARIA charts and was met as an instant classic; going platinum and earning Xavier two ARIA nominations, with three of its songs - Let Me Be, Shelter and Solace - voted into triple j's Hottest 100.Only a year later, Xavier was receiving his third ARIA nomination, this time for third album Food In The Belly. Celebrated for Xavier's abilities to effortlessly weave genres together - from the reggae sway of The Mother, to the irresistible tribal jam of Manã - Food In The Belly impacted strongly in Australia and Europe, landing Xavier on the Dutch album charts for the first time. Xavier's gold-selling follow-up, White Moth, continued on this path of international success. Released in 2007 on Epitaph sister label ANTI-, White Moth reached #30 on the US Billboard charts and earned Xavier another ARIA nomination back home.Nudging ahead of White Moth one spot to peak the ARIA charts at #5, 2008's Dark Shades Of Blue was Xavier's biggest musical departure, yet resulted in massive fan and critical acclaim. Gritty, dark and introspective, the album connected deeply with fans, and reintroduced Xavier as formidable lap steel player. 2010's Koonyum Sun - recorded as trio Xavier Rudd And Izintaba - was a return to lighter shades. Featuring a new sound courtesy of a collaboration with bassist Tio Moloantoa and percussionist Andile Nqubezelo - yet abundant in the blues'n'roots charm of his earliest work - Koonyum Sun brought Xavier Rudd full circle.Debuting at #2 on the ARIA charts, Xavier's 2012 album Spirit Bird was the triumphant pinnacle of of his entire solo career - capturing the most beautiful aspects of his voice, his songs and his spirit. Led by the wonderfully delicate Follow The Sun, Spirit Bird saw Xavier Rudd yet again tour the world, bringing together old fans and new, regardless of their culture or country of origin. Now, this ability to connect is at the heart of Xavier Rudd And The United Nations - a band with a strong message of all people coming together around the globe to return to spirit, respect the ancient ways and protect the Earth and the very essence of creation.Mixed by Errol Brown at Tuff Gong Studios, Nanna is Xavier's ninth studio album, but his first with Xavier Rudd And The United Nations... finding one of the great solo artists our time fronting a full band with impeccable results. Once again diving into new musical waters, while still holding true to the music in his heart, Xavier Rudd has added another remarkable milestone to his already epic journey; solidifying his place as one of Australia's greatest artists, activists and spirits.
read more
For Xavier Rudd, writing music and living his life are one and the same. "I'm literally just singing about the things that are going on around me," he says of his sublime and soaring indie-folk. Environmental work, activism, veganism, spiritualism, surfing, family camping trips in the bush and dog walks on the beach; everything Rudd does, he pours into song. The result is a personal sound that strikes a universal note.
The Australian multi-instrumentalist's new album title track best encapsulates this idea. Backed by the gentle strum of acoustic guitar, on 'Storm Boy', Rudd sends out a postcard of a sun-drenched life lived outdoors: "Freedom of the heart is what we crave / When we sit by the river with a cup of tea / Watch the movement of the tide in the gentle breeze," he sings, in his comfort-blanket voice.
It's just one of many highlights on a record that celebrates strength and stability at their most powerful and fundamental. In the picture-perfect video for 'Walk Away', Rudd is captured swimming in lakes, catching the surf and strumming his guitar, while booming bass drums amp up the track's near-transcendent quality.
One specific moment seems to sum up the record for Rudd, an album which he describes as "pondering" and "more personal" than previous efforts. It's a line where Rudd's spirituality really comes to the fore: "Kookaburra calls just like he knows / And I call a ride back yes I'm home / He's been with me he's watched me grow / Through those rainy days and those rocky roads."
Six years have passed since Rudd's last solo release, Spirit Bird, and a lot of things have happened in that time. Storm Boy tracks the last five or six years of his journey, his "awakening" and of all the things that "have made sense" along the way.
Most notably, he's fallen in love. "It's definitely a theme on the record," agrees Rudd. And if Spirit Bird signalled the beginning of his spiritual self-awakening, Storm Boy arrives at the conclusion. "Life feels strong and solid for me now... and this record is in a different space. It's a solid space. I feel like I've come to the end of that chapter where I've learned a bunch of lessons and I've been shown a bunch of things spiritually."
Hailing from Australia's surf hotspot Torquay, Rudd kickstarted his career in 2002 with the now classic album To Let, before going on to release seven studio LPs over the next thirteen years: Solace (2004), Food In The Belly (2005), White Moth (2007), Dark Shades Of Blue (2008), Koonyum Sun (2010), Spirit Bird (2012), and his first album with The United Nations, Nanna (2015).
"I've had a great career of mucking around with different sounds... so every record you learn a little bit here and there," says Rudd, whose new album tips its hat to his love of reggae and blues as much as it feels palpably more symphonic in sound than his previous LP, the collaborative Nanna.
Storm Boy marks a landmark shift in the ARIA-nominated star's working process. Produced by Chris Bond (Ben Howard, Tom Speight) and mixed by Tim Palmer (Pearl Jam, Bowie, U2), it's the first time Rudd has ever handed over the reigns completely to a producer. A brave move, but one that ultimately served him well. "Everything I wrote just had a sprinkle of magic dust on it," he says of working with Chris Bond.
But there's more to Xavier Rudd than making music: his peace-promoting messages travel way beyond the recording studio. As an activist, Rudd champions the rights of indigenous Australians, carrying out vital work to raise awareness of Aboriginal culture and preserve his own Wurundjeri heritage. He's also a prolific environmentalist, having performed at rallies and demonstrations including 2014's Bentley anti-gas blockade campsite.
Recent years have seen Rudd use his platform to share the benefits of mindfulness, while he is also a committed vegan and has worked with US animal rights charity Peta on more than one occasion, earning the accolade of Australia's Sexiest Vegetarian.
All of this aside, ultimately it's about connecting with his fans. "It's a huge compliment for me when there are people in other countries, in other languages, singing my lyrics and singing my songs," says Rudd. And with a massive intercontinental tour lined up for this year - his biggest one to date - Rudd will bring Storm Boy to life on the stage, captivating a whole new legion of fans along the way.
~~~~~~~~~~
Since the very beginning, Xavier Rudd's ability to connect with people has been his most powerful gift. The more he has toured the world, the more hearts he has touched and the more of the world he has put back into his music. Now, fronting a band aptly named The United Nations, Xavier Rudd has assembled a lineup of musicians from around the world as a one-people musical force. Making their debut in 2015, Xavier Rudd And The United Nations finds the iconic Australian solo artist in full band mode for the first time in a long and successful career, and introduces new album Nanna to Xavier's diverse and acclaimed discography...Enthralling audiences with his ability to wield so many instruments at once, Xavier'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. Something distinctly new, yet tied back through time to the spirit of our ancestors. With a sound established, Xavier's 2004 sophomore album, Solace, was testament to the power of his songwriting abilities. Solace debuted in the top 20 of the ARIA charts and was met as an instant classic; going platinum and earning Xavier two ARIA nominations, with three of its songs - Let Me Be, Shelter and Solace - voted into triple j's Hottest 100.Only a year later, Xavier was receiving his third ARIA nomination, this time for third album Food In The Belly. Celebrated for Xavier's abilities to effortlessly weave genres together - from the reggae sway of The Mother, to the irresistible tribal jam of Manã - Food In The Belly impacted strongly in Australia and Europe, landing Xavier on the Dutch album charts for the first time. Xavier's gold-selling follow-up, White Moth, continued on this path of international success. Released in 2007 on Epitaph sister label ANTI-, White Moth reached #30 on the US Billboard charts and earned Xavier another ARIA nomination back home.Nudging ahead of White Moth one spot to peak the ARIA charts at #5, 2008's Dark Shades Of Blue was Xavier's biggest musical departure, yet resulted in massive fan and critical acclaim. Gritty, dark and introspective, the album connected deeply with fans, and reintroduced Xavier as formidable lap steel player. 2010's Koonyum Sun - recorded as trio Xavier Rudd And Izintaba - was a return to lighter shades. Featuring a new sound courtesy of a collaboration with bassist Tio Moloantoa and percussionist Andile Nqubezelo - yet abundant in the blues'n'roots charm of his earliest work - Koonyum Sun brought Xavier Rudd full circle.Debuting at #2 on the ARIA charts, Xavier's 2012 album Spirit Bird was the triumphant pinnacle of of his entire solo career - capturing the most beautiful aspects of his voice, his songs and his spirit. Led by the wonderfully delicate Follow The Sun, Spirit Bird saw Xavier Rudd yet again tour the world, bringing together old fans and new, regardless of their culture or country of origin. Now, this ability to connect is at the heart of Xavier Rudd And The United Nations - a band with a strong message of all people coming together around the globe to return to spirit, respect the ancient ways and protect the Earth and the very essence of creation.Mixed by Errol Brown at Tuff Gong Studios, Nanna is Xavier's ninth studio album, but his first with Xavier Rudd And The United Nations... finding one of the great solo artists our time fronting a full band with impeccable results. Once again diving into new musical waters, while still holding true to the music in his heart, Xavier Rudd has added another remarkable milestone to his already epic journey; solidifying his place as one of Australia's greatest artists, activists and spirits.
show less
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