SOULFUL surfer Xavier Rudd has captured the Australian public with his emotionally escalating songs.
The Victorian singer-songwriter has released his seventh studio album, Spirit Bird, which includes 13 percussion-based hits.
In his latest mix, Rudd has married environmental themes and rightful land ownership with songs about personal awakening.
Rudd said the album wasn’t about sending a message to the Australian government or people but a way to release his own feelings.
“It’s great if people take in the lyrics but it wasn’t about trying to send a message,” he said.
“I create music based on my emotions and thoughts.
"I like to express my thoughts and feelings through my music and that’s the way it happened.”
To add to the multiple percussion instruments, a slide guitar and digeridoo, Rudd has also incorporated 30 species of Australian birds, which squawk and chirp throughout his songs.
He said adding birds into his music had been an idea that he had always wanted to do.
“This album is the first time where I have been able to work as a solo artist, in previous albums I’ve worked with someone else.
“In this album it’s an idea I have had for quite a while with the percussion and harmony timed.”
In particular, the song Spirit Bird was based on his encounter with a red-tailed black cockatoo in the Kimberley.
“Ironically, I had an encounter with a red-tailed black cockatoo and when I looked into the eyes, she spoke to me and visions of places and faces and things and memories which were not mine but hers flooded inside of me.
‘‘I felt what she felt.
‘‘From that very spiritual encounter the song just came out of me.’’
Rudd burst onto the music scene with his debut album To Let in 2002.
Since than, he has received ARIA award nominations and topped national and international charts.
He said a career in the industry was only natural progression from his performances and song creations.
"I’ve always been writing little melodies about things that happen to me and I have always been performing for people.
"I guess music just comes through me.
"It’s very close to my heart."
Rudd is a self-taught musician who can play more than 15 instruments.
"I like the idea of just grabbing any instrument and practising on it."
"I like the raw expression that you get from picking up and instrument and playing with it for the first."
Next, Rudd will promote Spirit Bird on a national tour which will see him visit 28 venues within two months.
“I’ve decided to take my show out to the more secluded places in Australia so people who don’t get to see and hear my music will be able to.
“I’m very excited because I haven’t been to all those places before.”