Xavier Rudd’s connection with nature

Fans of Australian songwriter Xavier Rudd will be familiar with his ability to create music which connects with, and sings, the soul of Australia – an inseparable blend of the beauty and power of its natural landscape and the wisdom of its rich Indigenous heritage.

Xavier opened up about his views on nature connection during a recent interview for SCOPE (Sunshine Coast Original Peoples’ Entertainment) Magazine:

After chatting with Xavier for a while you do realise he is a very wise man and has a huge connection to nature, our country and its culture. This innate connection with nature is an intriguing element to Xavier’s personality.

“It’s funny how people are intrigued by others relationship with nature. We are all of this earth, not just living on this earth; everyone has an energetic and karmic connection to nature. Unfortunately some people’s connection is simply blocked by the man-made society that we live in. Anyone can open themselves up to this connection, as it is always ever present in their lives.”

It was evident through the tone in Xavier’s voice that he would get great pleasure in seeing modern day society break free from its man-made shackles and reconnect with Mother Nature.

Xavier’s new album Spirit Bird is also clearly a reflection of his deep connection with nature. The album cover features the tail feather of the enigmatic and ethereal Red-tailed Black Cockatoo.  And if you take a look at the film clip to Xavier’s single “Follow the Sun” you will see that same tail feather finds a home in his hat.

We cannot be sure of the exact circumstances surrounding the tail feather, but one can be near certain that its existence is closely tied with a highly meaningful nature experience. In the opening paragraph in the CD inlay of Spirit Bird, Xavier reflects:

The keys to this album were passed to me a few years ago in Kimberley country far north Western Australia through the eyes of an old old old woman spirit red tail black cockatoo. I would like to pay respect to that experience which opened the door to the music and journey that followed and continues to flow.

The title track Spirit Bird contains the following lyrics:

Spirit Bird she creaks and groans she knows she has seen this all before, she has seen this all before…But your dreaming and a warrior spirit lives on, and it is so so so strong in the earth in the trees in the rocks in the water in your blood and in the air we breathe.