Bic Runga

Last updated

Bic Runga
MNZM
Runga2 small.jpg
Runga performing on the 2010 Winery Tour, in Auckland, New Zealand
Born
Briolette Kah Bic Runga

(1976-01-13) 13 January 1976 (age 48)
Christchurch, New Zealand
Spouse Kody Nielson
Children3
Relatives Boh Runga (sister)
Musical career
Genres Pop rock, folk rock
InstrumentsVocals, guitar, drums
Years active1994–present
Labels Sony New Zealand, Columbia
Website bicrunga.com

Briolette Kah Bic Runga MNZM (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".

Contents

Early life

Runga was born in Christchurch. Her mother, Sophia Tang, was a Chinese Malaysian lounge singer in Malaysia when she met Joseph Te Okoro Runga, a Māori ex-serviceman. [1] [2] They moved to New Zealand to live. Runga is of Ngāti Kahungunu descent. [1] 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.'" [3]

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 learned 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, [4] [5] 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

Runga performing in Dublin in 2004 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. [6]

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. [7]

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 (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. [8] Runga completed a 17 date tour across New Zealand and 13 dates across Ireland, United Kingdom and Australia. [9]

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

In June 2015, Runga released a new single titled "Dreamed a Dream". [10] 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. [11]

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 . [12] "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. [13] 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". [14]

Personal life

Runga's partner is drummer Kody Nielson. She has three children. [15] 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. [16]

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

Live albums

With 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.

YearAwardForResult
1996 Rising Star AwardherselfNominated
Most Promising Female VocalistherselfWon
1997 Single of the YearunknownNominated
Best Female VocalistherselfWon
Best Songwriterherself for "Bursting Through"Nominated
1998 Album of the YearDriveWon
Single of the Year"Sway"Won
Best Female Vocalistherself for "Sway"Won
Best VideoWayne Conway for Runga's "Suddenly Strange"Nominated
Best EngineerSimon Sheridan for Runga's "Sway"Won
Best SongwriterBic Runga's "Sway"Won
Best CoverWayne Conway for Runga's DriveWon
1999 International AchievementBic RungaWon
2000 International AchievementBic RungaWon
2001 Album of the Year Tim Finn, Dave Dobbyn & Bic Runga Together in Concert: LiveNominated
2003 Album of the YearBeautiful CollisionNominated
Single of the Year"Get Some Sleep"Nominated
Best Female VocalistBic Runga Beautiful CollisionWon
Best Solo ArtistBic Runga Beautiful CollisionWon
Best Music VideoChris Graham and Bic Runga for Runga's "Something Good"Nominated
Highest Selling New Zealand AlbumBeautiful CollisionWon
Producer of the YearBic Runga Beautiful CollisionWon
2003 Best Female Solo ArtistLive in ConcertNominated
Highest Selling New Zealand AlbumBeautiful CollisionNominated
International AchievementBic RungaNominated
2006 Album Of The YearBirdsWon
Single of the Year"Winning Arrow"Nominated
Best Female Solo ArtistBic Runga BirdsWon
Best ProducerBic Runga BirdsWon
Peoples Choice AwardherselfNominated
Best EngineerAndre Upston for Runga's BirdsWon
2012 Best Pop AlbumBelleNominated
Best Producer Kody Nielson for "Belle"Nominated
2016 New Zealand Music Hall of Fame herselfinductee

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Something Good (Bic Runga song)</span> 2002 single by Bic Runga

"Something Good" is a song written, produced, and performed by New Zealand singer Bic Runga. The song was released in New Zealand in 2002 and reached number four on the RIANZ Singles Chart. In 2003, "Something Good" received the Best Solo Video award from Juice TV. On 21 June 2004, the song was released in the United Kingdom as a maxi-single but failed to chart.

<i>Drive</i> (Bic Runga album) 1997 studio album by Bic Runga

Drive is the debut solo album by New Zealand artist Bic Runga, released on 14 July 1997. The album went seven times platinum in New Zealand, and won the New Zealand Music Award for Album of the Year at the 32nd New Zealand Music Awards.

<i>Beautiful Collision</i> 2002 studio album by Bic Runga

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<i>Birds</i> (Bic Runga album) 2005 studio album by Bic Runga

Birds is the third studio album by New Zealand artist Bic Runga. The album was released in New Zealand on 28 November 2005. The album was Bic's third no.1 album garnering platinum status in its first week. The album was certified 3× platinum. The album won the New Zealand Music Award for Album of the Year in 2006, her second award for Best Album, after her debut release Drive.

<i>Together in Concert: Live</i> 2000 live album by Tim Finn, Bic Runga, Dave Dobbyn

Together in Concert: Live is a 2000 live album by Tim Finn, Bic Runga, and Dave Dobbyn during their Together in Concert tour. It was recorded in the months of August and September 2000 in venues around New Zealand. Both the concert and album feature all three performers providing vocal and instrumental backing on each other's songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sway (Bic Runga song)</span> 1997 single by Bic Runga

"Sway" is a song by New Zealand singer Bic Runga. It was released as the second single from her debut studio album, Drive (1997), in 1997. The song peaked at No. 7 in New Zealand and No. 10 in Australia, earning gold certifications in both countries. At the 32nd New Zealand Music Awards, the song won three awards: Single of the Year, Best Songwriter, and Best Engineer. In 2001, it was voted the sixth-best New Zealand song of all time by members of the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). A music video directed by John Taft was made for the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Get Some Sleep</span> 2002 single by Bic Runga

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<i>Belle</i> (album) 2011 studio album by Bic Runga

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<i>Anthology</i> (Bic Runga album) 2012 greatest hits album by Bic Runga

Anthology is a compilation album by New Zealand singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Bic Runga. The album was initially set to be released on 23 November 2012, but ultimately released on 1 December 2012 in New Zealand. The album cover was revealed on 29 October 2012.

<i>Try to Remember Everything</i> 2008 compilation album by Bic Runga

Try to Remember Everything is a compilation album by New Zealand singer-song writer Bic Runga. The album is collection of unreleased, new and rare Bic Runga recordings from 1996 to 2008. The album was released on 21 November 2008 and was certified gold in December.

References

  1. 1 2 "Neighbourhood". tvnz.co.nz. Television New Zealand . Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  2. ↑ Birds (CD liner). Bic Runga. New Zealand: Sony / BMG. 2005. 82876755532.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ↑ Moses, Alexa (13 September 2002). "Bic from the brink". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  4. ↑ "Performing Arts". Cashmere High School . Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  5. ↑ "Bic Runga". Christchurch City Libraries . Christchurch City Council. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  6. ↑ "New Year honours list 2006". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2005. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  7. ↑ "The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Rianz.org.nz. Archived from the original on 9 July 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  8. ↑ "New single, tour for Bic Runga". The New Zealand Herald . 27 September 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  9. ↑ Jones, Bridget (27 September 2011). "Bic's Belle rings out in church". Stuff.co.nz . Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  10. ↑ "BIC RUNGA". BIC RUNGA. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  11. ↑ "Tiny Ruins and Bic Runga together – so good they should be called Tiny Runga". Stuff. 5 July 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  12. ↑ "BIC RUNGA CELEBRATED WITH 2016 NZ HERALD LEGACY AWARD". NZ Music Awards. 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  13. ↑ "BIC RUNGA CELEBRATED WITH 2016 NZ HERALD LEGACY AWARD". NZ Music Awards. 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  14. ↑ "BIC RUNGA CELEBRATED WITH 2016 NZ HERALD LEGACY AWARD". NZ Music Awards. 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  15. ↑ "Bic Runga on music, family, and why she wants to reinvent herself". Now to Love. 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  16. ↑ "New Year honours list 2006". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2005. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
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