Xavier Rudd Releases New Single Featuring Voice of Dr Jane Goodall

Australian singer-songwriter Xavier Rudd has returned today with a brand new single, “Part of Life”, that also features the voice of the late Dr Jane Goodall.

An ode to women and “inspired by life”, the song is also complemented with an animated music video from Jarrad Wright (The Big Lez Show).

“I wanted to have a feminine voice, a calm feminine voice, to end the song and to kind of have a bit of a bubble with this feminine wisdom,” Rudd tells Rolling Stone AU/NZ.

“The front half of the song is very masculine, and I wanted to show that side of our female elders and almost like a reminder to people to remember to listen to our women. After watching a documentary with my wife, she mentioned that Jane Goodall would be great in that space, and that’s where the idea came from. Then I followed it up with Jane Goodall’s son, and he approved it, and so did Netflix.

“Dr Jane Goodall is a champion. She’s one of those old-school activists who don’t come along very often. She’s done amazing things in the world, and when I wanted to find that voice of a strong, feminine elder, she was perfect. She fits the bill in so many ways.”

While fans are hoping this is the first taste of more new music since last year’s Where To Now EP, the Victorian-born singer has more up his sleeve, and even wants to tour the country again in 2027 following a European run this year.

“It has been a long time now since I’ve done an extensive tour of Australia. I would like to do something possibly next year – I definitely would like to tour this current show that I’m working on at the moment,” he says.

“I did record one more song when I recorded ‘Part of Life’. I haven’t finished it off yet, but there’s definitely that in the pipeline. And, you know, I’m always writing, so you never really know.”