LYDIA FAIRHALL: I am on Wurundjeri country, and actually I think a
really nice way to drop into these yarns is to absolutely, even though
we’re on the phone, acknowledge country. So I really want to take a
moment to do that. Particularly because this is your Homelands.XAVIER RUDD: Where are you at?Well, close. I grew up down on
Wathaurong country. Down in the
south there on the coast.Oh, it’s deadly. It’s cold [laughs].Yeah. Well, I’m on Gubbi Gubbi
country right now.Yeah oh cheers sis. I’ve always had a lot of faith
in that spirit level. ’Cause I guess I understand,
definitely in my story there’s a lot of unknowns
and a lot of shame stuff that doesn’t get talked
about. But I always had this connection to spirit
and it comes through me in the form of music.
As I’ve got older I feel like it’s maybe my great
grandmother or my nan that’s involved. But
you know there’s definitely a spirit that comes
through my music and has a lot to say. And
from a young age almost it’s like I was gifted this wisdom in a way. In the fact that I was able to
separate my ego from what I was doing. I was able to really, from a young age, recognise that
I’m not part of what’s going on with me and what you hear is not me. It’s come from some other
place and I really need to just let that be what it is. And not let my ego change it or get involved.
Just present it how it comes through. It’s still the same way today.And I just let it be what it is. As I’ve got older I may put it into words more as to what it might
be, but I’ll never know. Not meant to know who it is and what it is. But I’m meant to hold space
for that energy, that music, that spirit. And bring it through—be clean, be strong, be a warrior
for it. And treat it with the utmost respect. So an analogy I often use is, I feel like my music
is like if you were to take your nan to church, you’d take her to church but you wouldn’t tell
her what to wear. It’s the same understanding I have with my music. I let it be what it is, what
comes through real strong, and then just honour that and share it. And hope that I’m doing
the right thing.Wow,
deadly!Beautiful. So Kulin Nations—big respect. It’s such an incredible part of the world.
I know. My family’s about to make a big pilgrimage up north so we’re holding
onto these last days of coldness, or letting go I should say! [Laughs].Beautiful. Something that I reckon is a pretty obvious
connection point between you and I, knowing a little bit
about your story and listening to your music, is that we’re
not oblivious to the injustices that our people have faced.
But I feel very drawn to your work in that you don’t dwell in it
either. And that you are able to focus in on a higher vibration
even amongst the trauma. So it seems like you really have
a vision and the commitment to promoting strength and
empowerment and wellbeing in all of the work that you do.And it’s very clear that it doesn’t matter how much separation has occurred or disconnection or lack
of physical stories there are to cling onto. Our Ancestors will always call us home. And it’s an arts-
based culture so of course it’s going to be through those mediums. You know, that makes absolutely
logical sense from a Lore perspective. And I was having this big yarn today with one of these
beautiful young women that I mentor. And she’s the daughter of one of the Warumpi Band members.Certain music comes from my emotional self and
stories and things that are going on around me,
but there’s also a lot of music that comes throughme that comes from somewhere else.
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XAVIER RUDD
DUMBO FEATHER