On tour and half a world away from the surf of Byron Bay and Bell’s Beach, last week Xavier Rudd was lucky enough to catch a rare wave. He was in France and between shows on his current exhaustive world tour, which has so far taken him to the UK, Europe and for the first time, Japan. “It’s a treat [to surf in France],” he says. “I miss surfing. You’ve got to be doing it all the time; it’s a different type of fitness. It’s always good to get in the water.”

In his quiet, thoughtful drawl – nearly at a standstill tonight owing to fatigue – Xavier talks about recording his new album, Dark Shades of Blue. The first Xavier Rudd album in years to be recorded in Australia, Xavier made the most of it by surfing every morning, and sleeping under the stars at night with his dog. Self-produced, Dark Shades of Blue was mixed by Joe Baressi, who has previously produced albums for Tool and QOTSA. Working with him, says Xavier, was “awesome. He really made the mix move around.”

While Xavier is a renowned multi-instrumentalist – his repertoire includes guitars, slide guitar, stomp box, harmonica and percussion – it is the didjeridu with which he is most closely identified. Or is it? As it turns out, “didjeridu” is actually a misnomer. “Yirdaki is the traditional name, from North East Arnhem Land,” Xavier explains. “Didjeridu is the white people’s name, from the sound it makes.”

Xavier’s masterful proficiency at the Yirdaki stems from an early interest in the instrument. “I’ve always played it since I was a kid. I used to play the vacuum and Mum would tell me not to.” This youthful preoccupation has grown into a spiritual connection. Xavier has been adopted into the Yirdaki clan in North East Arnhem Land, and “gifted the spirit of the Yirdaki.”

Counting members of Victoria’s Wurundjeri clan among his forebears, Xavier’s indigenous association extends beyond music. “I’ve had an old woman spirit with me since I was a little boy…I’m not sure who it is, my father’s grandmother or great grandmother.”

Xavier’s ongoing involvement with Aboriginal culture in Australia has at times put him at odds with Federal Government indigenous policy, such as the recent Northern Territory Intervention. “I spend most of my time with black fellas…I’m in the middle of it,” he says. “I think arguing issues at a government level is a waste of time.” He believes past maltreatment has created an atmosphere of mistrust and bitterness among many Aboriginal communities. “There’s a lot of bitterness, which is completely understandable…we need to build a bridge through education,” he says. “It needs to start with kids. Aboriginal kids need to feel their culture exists outside [their community].”

Xavier reckons Aboriginal kids need to feel cherished. For the last few years he has been involved with the Narana Festival, held on Victoria’s surf coast, an event that aims to increase awareness of indigenous issues throughout Australia. The festival’s proceeds go towards establishing an Aboriginal education program in Victorian primary schools. “We need white kids to connect to Aboriginal culture,” he says. “They want to because they are interested in it.”

So too are international audiences. Aside from his plentiful musical talent, surely Xavier’s considerable popularity around the world can be explained in part by his manifest Aboriginal connection. With three didjeridus on stage, each in a different key, and Aboriginal vocalists singing on Dark Shades of Blue, Xavier provides international listeners an insight into a culture that is at times inaccessible.

“Internationally people are really interested, really fascinated by [indigenous Australian culture], but there’s not a lot of information available to them,” he says. “Places in north-western Australia, around the Kimberleys, give an insight into the history of human beings, not just a culture. People definitely respect that and are intrigued by it.”

Xavier will be wrapping up his current world tour in October with a string of shows in Australia. Fortunately the man loves touring – the “energy exchange” – and is looking forward to coming home. “I love the spirit and the energy of Australia.”

Dark Shades Of Blue is out now through Universal. Catch Xavier Rudd’s Australian tour at the following venues.

Tue 28 Oct – The Hi Fi, Melbourne
Mon 03 Nov – Canberra Uni Refectory, Canberra
Tue 04 Nov – Waves Nightclub, Wollongong
Thu 06 Nov – The Metro Theatre, Sydney
Sun 09 Nov- Civic Theatre Newcastle, Newcastle
Tue 11 Nov – Coffs Ex-Serviceman’s Club, Coffs Harbour
Wed 12 Nov – Ballina RSL, Ballina
Fri 14 Nov – The Events Centre, Caloundra
Sat 15 Nov – The Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane
Tue 18 Nov – The Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton
Fri 21 Nov – Townsville Civic Theatre, Townsville
Sat 22 Nov – Kuranda Amphitheatre, Kuranda
Thu 27 Nov – Belvoir Amphitheatre, Perth
Fri 28 Nov – Old Broadwater Farm, Busselton
Sun 30 Nov – Elder Park, Adelaide