Singer-songwriter Xavier Rudd plays Irving Plaza tonight

“No worries, mate.” It’s one of the first things Xavier Rudd says to me during our twenty-minute phone conversation. With three words, he sets the tone for the entire interview and I feel the need to take a deep breath, slow down, and listen. It’s not that the Australian singer-songwriter has nothing to worry about. His quiet and sleepy vibe quickly dissolves when talking about causes he is passionate about—oppression, preservation and conservation—yet, Rudd seems reluctant to let negativity take hold of his speaking. Instead he focuses on the positive, suggesting that together, through the exchange of energy, culture, and music, we can make a difference.

“The music has been coming through me for a long time,” Rudd says. “Ever since I can remember, it’s just been a part of me.” Growing up in Torquay, a township in Victoria, Australia, Rudd says there was never a defining moment that led him to pursue a career in music, “It just sort of fell into my lap. It was one of those things that I was passionate about and I had the opportunity to do it. I started playing live and it was going good for me and it snowballed into...well, here I am. Music is everything,” he says. “It’s all I’m good at.”

Xavier Rudd released his first studio album, To Let, in 2002 and has been writing and touring consistently over the past few years. His latest album, Koonyum Sun, is a collaboration with South African musicians Tio Moloantoa and Andile Nqubezelo, who tour with Rudd as “Izintaba.” The trio met at a music festival in Austria and felt an instant connection. They kept in touch and eventually began to create music together. Of the partnership, Rudd says, “It’s fantastic. It makes sense. I bring them my songs and they add in their own beautiful, independent style. They bring in their own feel, culture, songs, and voices.” The result is a vibrant album that, even in its slower moments, is still charged with energy. Koonyum Sun is about life and culture, something that Rudd recognizes is continuous presence in his work. “It just comes through. It’s like the spirit; you can’t define it. It comes from another place and I respect that it’s in my music and I’ve been given a journey.”

Throughout this journey, Rudd has used his music as an instrument for social change. A recurring theme in his work, particularly on Koonyum Sun, is about the environment. Rudd, who recently had an autonomous home built for him and his family, is focused on conservation. “Eventually our place on this earth will deteriorate. I believe Earth will preserve itself and cough us away. Right now, it’s about preserving this place for as long as we can. Respecting culture and recognizing what this earth was before the deterioration, thinking about all of the people who came before us who barely made a mark and going back to that—the native position of humanity.” While he understands that his music can help spread this message across the world, Rudd admits that it is difficult to balance this message of conservation with being a touring artist. “Everyday existence is such a struggle for me. I have a massive footprint on this earth; it’s bullshit. It frustrates me daily. Tour buses and crap...it’s beyond my control and if I could hire someone to somehow fix the problem, I would. This is such a toxic industry in terms of what it does to our planet.”

Ultimately, the music is what continues to drive Xavier Rudd, despite the crisis of conscience, and he’s thankful for the fans who have come along for the ride: “I’m lucky that I have good people coming to the shows. They’re there to respect one another, to enjoy music and culture. To enjoy and celebrate the beautiful things.” Rudd explains the atmosphere at his live shows as energetic, “It’s boogie time. People are dancing and grooving. It’s happening, it’s pulsing, and everyone is moving.” As for new listeners, “I hope they dig it. I hope they leave with a smile and give their friends a big hug. I hope they’re inspired by what I have to say and what my music is.”

Xavier Rudd and Izintaba play The Fillmore at Irving Plaza tonight at 7 p.m (with Good Old War). Tickets are $25.00 and are available to purchase online here.

The album Koonyum Sun is available online and in stores. For more information on Xavier Rudd, visit his website: www.XavierRudd.com. 

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