Bic Runga

From Vero - Wikipedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox person Briolette Kah Bic Runga Template:Post-nominals (born 13 January 1976), recording as Bic Runga, is a New Zealand singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist pop artist. Her first three studio albums debuted at number one on the New Zealand Top 40 Album charts. Runga has also found success internationally in Australia, Ireland and the United Kingdom with her 1997 song "Sway".

Early life

Runga was born in Christchurch.<ref name="Nimmervoll">Template:Cite web</ref> Her mother, Sophia Tang, was a Chinese Malaysian lounge singer in Malaysia when she met Joseph Te Okoro Runga (died 2005),<ref name="Boh interview" /> a Māori ex-serviceman and self-taught pianist.<ref name="Nimmervoll" /><ref name="neighbourhood">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="BirdsCD">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> The couple moved to New Zealand to live. Runga is of Ngāti Kahungunu descent.<ref name="neighbourhood" /> Regarding her name, she explains: "You say it Bec, rather than Bic.Template:Nbsp... It's Chinese, it's a strange vowel sound which doesn't seem to translate in Australia. It means the colour of jade, which might mean green."<ref name="Moses">Template:Cite news</ref>

Runga grew up in Hornby, Christchurch, surrounded by a musically inclined family, and started recording songs with her sisters, Boh (oldest)<ref name="Boh interview">Template:Cite news</ref> and Pearl, when she was four years old. Boh was the vocalist in the New Zealand rock group Stellar in the 1990s and 2000s, while Pearl is a session singer.

Runga learned how to play drums at the age of eleven, and guitar at about fourteen.<ref name="Nimmervoll" /> She also learned to play the keyboard around this time to perform in jazz bands.<ref name="Nimmervoll" /> She attended Cashmere High School,<ref name="CHS-performing-arts">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> joining high school bands.

Career

1993–1997: Early career and Drive

Template:Main Under the name Love Soup, Runga and Kelly Horgan entered the 1993 Smokefreerockquest in Christchurch, achieving third place and a music contract with Pagan Records. Using a QE II Arts Council grant, Runga recorded the first Drive EP in Wellington. Unsatisfied with the direction that her music was being taken, she moved to Auckland in 1994 and spent a year writing and performing in cafés.<ref name="Nimmervoll" />

In 1995, she sent a new demo of "Drive" to Sony Music, which signed Runga in September of that year and bought her Wellington recordings from Pagan Records. Sony had her re-record the song with more instruments, but it was eventually her demo that was used on the upcoming album. "Drive" is described as a "haunting pop ballad", which she wrote minutes before her first Auckland performance.<ref name="Nimmervoll" /> It entered the Top 10 in New Zealand and won her the APRA Silver Scroll award in 1996.<ref name="Nimmervoll" />

Runga then released "Bursting Through", the first single from her upcoming album, also entitled Drive. The success of the singles led to the release of her debut album, Drive, in 1997. Runga's song "Sway", along with a duet with Dan Wilson of Semisonic called "Good Morning Baby", were used in the films American Pie, and Cruel Intentions. Six singles were released from the album, while "Sway" was released in New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

Runga has recorded two songs called "Drive". The first was her own, which appeared on her debut album of the same name. The second was a 1999 collaboration with fellow New Zealanders Strawpeople, providing guest vocals for their cover of The Cars' classic 1984 hit.

2000–2008: Beautiful Collision and Birds

Template:Main

File:Bicrunga.jpg
Runga performing in Dublin in 2004

In 2000, Runga toured with Tim Finn and Dave Dobbyn, resulting in a release of a live album in November 2000, titled Together in Concert: Live. It peaked at number 2 on the New Zealand charts and has been certified 3× platinum. Runga released her second solo album, Beautiful Collision in 2002. It entered the New Zealand charts at number one and has been certified 10× platinum in New Zealand.

Her third studio album, Birds, was released in New Zealand on 28 November 2005. New Zealand artists Neil Finn (piano) and Anika Moa (backing vocals) contributed to the album. The first single, "Winning Arrow", was released on the same day. It was her third consecutive studio album to enter the New Zealand charts at number one. Birds was certified triple platinum.

Runga played a 'Vietnamese lounge singer' in the 2005 film Little Fish, and covered Gene Pitney's "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart" for the soundtrack. In the 2006 New Year Honours, Runga was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to music.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In November 2008, Runga released Try to Remember Everything which is a collection of unreleased, new and rare Bic Runga recordings from 1996 to 2008. The album was certified Gold in New Zealand on 14 December 2008, selling over 7,500 copies.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2011–2015: Belle and Anthology

Template:Main Runga contributed to the score and soundtrack to New Zealand filmmaker Roseanne Liang's debut feature film My Wedding and Other Secrets (2011). In addition to featuring "Say After Me" from Birds, the film also included two tracks ("Hello Hello" and "This Girl's Prepared for War") from her fourth album Belle.

Belle was released in November 2011.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Runga completed a 17 date tour across New Zealand and 13 dates across Ireland, United Kingdom and Australia.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

A greatest hits album, Anthology, was released on 1 December 2012.

In June 2015, Runga released a new single titled "Dreamed a Dream".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This was a collaboration with Hollie Fullbrook of Tiny Ruins, with whom she toured New Zealand in June and July 2015. As well as solo performances by both artists, these shows included covers of songs by Simon & Garfunkel, Yoko Ono, Francoise Hardy, Donovan and Fleetwood Mac. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2016–present: Close Your Eyes and New Zealand Music Hall of Fame

Template:Main In October 2016, it was announced that Runga would release an album of consisting of ten covers and two original tracks titled Close Your Eyes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "Close Your Eyes" was released on 14 October 2016 as a single.

In November 2016, Runga was inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Recorded Music CEO Damian Vaughan said "Bic is one of our most loved and treasured recording artists, her songs are instantly recognizable and have been part of the fabric of New Zealand for more than 20 years. We're honoured to present Bic with the 2016 Legacy Award and induct her into the NZ Music Hall of Fame".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In September 2025, she announced her upcoming sixth studio album, Red Sunset, due for release in 2026.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

Runga's partner is drummer Kody Nielson. She has three children.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She has two sisters who are also musicians, Pearl Runga and Boh Runga.

Honours

In the 2006 New Year Honours Runga was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to music.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Discography

Template:Main

Studio albums

Compilation albums

Live albums

With Kody Nielson and Chris Nielson as Opossom

New Zealand Music Awards

The New Zealand Music Awards are presented annually by Recorded Music NZ recognising outstanding artistic and technical achievements in the recording field.

Year Award For Result
1996 Rising Star Award herself Template:Nom
Most Promising Female Vocalist herself Template:Won
1997 Single of the Year "Drive" Template:Nom
Best Female Vocalist herself Template:Won
Best Songwriter herself for "Bursting Through" Template:Nom
1998 Album of the Year Drive Template:Won
Single of the Year "Sway" Template:Won
Best Female Vocalist herself for "Sway" Template:Won
Best Video Wayne Conway for Runga's "Suddenly Strange" Template:Nom
Best Engineer Simon Sheridan for Runga's "Sway" Template:Won
Best Songwriter Bic Runga's "Sway" Template:Won
Best Cover Wayne Conway for Runga's Drive Template:Won
1999 International Achievement Bic Runga Template:Won
2000 International Achievement Bic Runga Template:Won
2001 Album of the Year Tim Finn, Dave Dobbyn & Bic Runga Together in Concert: Live Template:Nom
2003 Album of the Year Beautiful Collision Template:Nom
Single of the Year "Get Some Sleep" Template:Nom
Best Female Vocalist Bic Runga Beautiful Collision Template:Won
Best Solo Artist Bic Runga Beautiful Collision Template:Won
Best Music Video Chris Graham and Bic Runga for Runga's "Something Good" Template:Nom
Highest Selling New Zealand Album Beautiful Collision Template:Won
Producer of the Year Bic Runga Beautiful Collision Template:Won
2003 Best Female Solo Artist Live in Concert Template:Nom
Highest Selling New Zealand Album Beautiful Collision Template:Nom
International Achievement Bic Runga Template:Nom
2006 Album Of The Year Birds Template:Won
Single of the Year "Winning Arrow" Template:Nom
Best Female Solo Artist Bic Runga Birds Template:Won
Best Producer Bic Runga Birds Template:Won
Peoples Choice Award herself Template:Nom
Best Engineer Andre Upston for Runga's Birds Template:Won
2012 Best Pop Album Belle Template:Nom
Best Producer Kody Nielson for "Belle" Template:Nom
2016 New Zealand Music Hall of Fame herself Template:Yes2

References

Template:Reflist

Template:Commons category

Template:Bic Runga Template:Authority control

Retrieved from "https://wiki.sarg.dev/index.php?title=Bic_Runga&oldid=169372"