Bic Runga


Briolette Kah Bic Runga , 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 song "Sway".

Early life

Runga was born in Christchurch. Her mother, Sophia Tang, was a Chinese Malaysian lounge singer in Malaysia when she met Joseph Runga, a Māori ex-serviceman. They moved to New Zealand to live. Runga is of Ngāti Kahungunu descent. Regarding her name, she explains: "'You say it Bec, rather than Bic.... 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.'" The "strange vowel" is a checked tone. For the meaning of "colour of jade", Bic is in Chinese characters.
Runga grew up in Hornby, Christchurch surrounded by a musically-inclined family, and started recording songs with her sisters, Boh and Pearl, when she was four years old. Runga's older sister Boh was the vocalist in the New Zealand rock group Stellar, while Pearl is a session singer.
She learnt how to play drums at the age of eleven, and guitar at about fourteen. Runga also learned to play the keyboard around this time. She attended Cashmere High School, joining high school bands and performing with local jazz groups by her mid-teens.

Career

1993–1997: Early career and ''Drive''

Under the name of "Love Soup", Runga and Kelly Horgan entered the 1993 Smokefreerockquest in Christchurch, winning 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 1995, she sent a new demo of "Drive" to Sony Music, who 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. It entered the Top 10 in New Zealand and won her the APRA Silver Scroll award in 1996.
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''

In 2000, Runga toured with Tim Finn and Dave Dobbyn, resulting in a release of a live album in November 2000, titled . It peaked at number 2 on the New Zealand charts and has been certified 3x platinum. Runga released her second solo album, Beautiful Collision in 2002. It entered the New Zealand charts at number one and has been certified 10x platinum in New Zealand.
Her third studio album, Birds, was released in New Zealand on 28 November 2005. New Zealand artists Neil Finn and Anika Moa 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.
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.

2011–2015: ''Belle'' and ''Anthology''

Runga contributed to the score and soundtrack to New Zealand filmmaker Roseanne Liang's debut feature film My Wedding and Other Secrets. In addition to featuring "Say After Me" from Birds, the film also included two tracks from her fourth album Belle.
Belle was released in November 2011. Runga completed a 17 date tour across New Zealand and 13 dates across Ireland, United Kingdom and Australia.
A greatest hits album, Anthology, was released on 1 December 2012.
In June 2015, Runga released a new single titled "Dreamed a Dream". 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.

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

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. "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. 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 honored to present Bic with the 2016 Legacy Award and induct her into the NZ Music Hall of Fame".

Personal life

Runga's partner is singer Kody Nielson. She has three children: Joe, Sophia, and Frida.

Honours

In the 2006 New Year Honours Runga was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to music.

Discography

Studio albums

The New Zealand Music Awards are presented annually by Recorded Music NZ recognising outstanding artistic and technical achievements in the recording field.
YearAwardForResult
1996Rising Star Awardherself
1996Most Promising Female Vocalistherself
1997Single of the Yearunknown
1997Best Female Vocalistherself
1997Best Songwriterherself for "Busting Through"
1998Album of the YearDrive
1998Single of the Year"Sway"
1998Best Female Vocalistherself for "Sway"
1998Best VideoWayne Conway for Runga's "Suddenly Strange"
1998Best EngineerSimon Sheridan for Runga's "Sway"
1998Best SongwriterBic Runga's "Sway"
1998Best CoverWayne Conway for Runga's Drive
1999International AchievementBic Runga
2000International AchievementBic Runga
2001Album of the YearTim Finn, Dave Dobbyn & Bic Runga Together in Concert: Live
2003Album of the YearBeautiful Collision
2003Single of the Year"Get Some Sleep"
2003Best Female VocalistBic Runga Beautiful Collision
2003Best Solo ArtistBic Runga Beautiful Collision
2003Best Music VideoChris Graham and Bic Runga for Runga's "Something Good"
2003Highest Selling New Zealand AlbumBeautiful Collision
2003Producer of the YearBic Runga Beautiful Collision
2003Best Female Solo ArtistLive in Concert
2003Highest Selling New Zealand AlbumBeautiful Collision
2003International AchievementBic Runga
2006Album Of The YearBirds
2006Single of the Year"Winning Arrow"
2006Best Female Solo ArtistBic Runga Birds
2006Best ProducerBic Runga Birds
2006Peoples Choice Awardherself
2006Best EngineerAndre Upston for Runga's Birds
2012Best Pop AlbumBelle
2012Best ProducerKody Nielson for "Belle"
2016New Zealand Music Hall of Fameherself