Red Sunset

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Red Sunset
Red Sunset by Bic Runga.png
Studio album by
Bic Runga
Released13 February 2026
Label Bic Runga
Bic Runga chronology
The Very Best of Bic Runga
(2017)		Red Sunset
(2026)
Singles from Red Sunset
  1. "It's Like Summertime"
    Released: 3 October 2025 [1]
  2. "Paris in the Rain"
    Released: 7 November 2025 [2]
  3. "Red Sunset"
    Released: 21 November 2025 [3]
  4. "Ghost in Your Bed"
    Released: 23 January 2026 [4]

Red Sunset is the sixth studio album by New Zealand singer-songwriter Bic Runga. The album was announced in September 2025 and was released on 13 February 2026. [5] [6]

Contents

Runga will tour New Zealand and Australia across March and April 2026 in support of the album. [7] [5]

Background and release

Runga's last album of original material was 2011's Belle and in 2025 got out of her self-described "professional slumber" and flew to Paris telling The Post "I really wanted to bookend the parenthood years with getting back to Paris and seeing it through their eyes, which I did. And I can die happy now, it's sort of all I wanted to do." In Paris, Runga rented an Airbnb with a grand piano and commenced the album, saying "Kody [Nielson] and I just took some recording gear and recorded a lot of the piano tracks in Paris, and took them back home and finished them." The recordings include fragments of ideas that had been living in her brain since she was 20. [6]

In September 2025, Runga performed at the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre on invitation from Auckland Philharmonia, where she performed three songs from the album. [6]

The lead single "It's Like Summertime" was released on 3 October 2025, which Runga recalled her carefree past while looking towards a hopeful future. saying "I wanted to offer comfort in a time where everyone needs it. The world feels so different now and familiarity provides care and love." [3]

The second single, “Paris in the Rain” was inspired by Runga watching the Louvre Pyramid be battered by torrential rain. Its sound was captured on a historic 1807 French Pleyel piano. [3]

The title track was released on 21 November 2025 and has been described as "a powerful torch song of longing and desire" which "evokes the tumultuous emotions of being the one left behind". [3]

Reception

Lachie Holt from Muzic said "Red Sunset is a fantastic album – one that rewards listening from start to finish. The tracklist is carefully arranged to build atmosphere: the first half leaning into upbeat, almost techno-influenced territory, while the second half becomes more delicate and acoustic." concluding saying "Red Sunset proves she’s still willing to take risks and experiment, while delivering the timeless, unmistakable sound her fans love." [8]

Tony Stamp from Radio New Zealand said the album "draws on vintage French pop...drawing inspiration from that country's pop music of the '60s and '70s". Stamp rated the album 4 1/2 out of 5. [9]

Quentin Harrison from The Line of Best Fit gave the album 8/10 saying "Throughout Red Sunset, Runga's voice sounds as fresh and airy as ever, holding quiet power and expressiveness in balance." [10]

Track listing

  1. "Glass Atrium" – 1:26
  2. "Red Sunset" – 3:17
  3. "Ghost in Your Bed" – 2:48
  4. "Paris in the Rain" – 3:13
  5. "It's Like Summertime" – 3:52
  6. "Escape from Planet Earth" – 2:40
  7. "You're Never Really Here (Are You Baby?)" – 2:31
  8. "Won't You Come Home" – 2:57
  9. "Hey Little One" – 3:05
  10. "Home Run" – 3:37

Charts

Chart performance for Red Sunset
Chart (2026)Peak
position
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [11] 38

References

  1. ↑ "Rolling Stone Icon Bic Runga Is Back with New Music". Rolling Stone Australia . 3 October 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  2. ↑ "TEARAWAY WEEKLY MUSIC HAUL – 7 NOVEMBER 2025". TEARAWAY. 7 November 2025. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "WATCH: Bic Runga Shares Stunning Music Video for New Single "Red Sunset"". Rolling Stone Australia . 21 November 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  4. ↑ "Bic Runga Releases New Single "Ghost in Your Bed"". NZ Music. 23 January 2026. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Bic Runga Returns to Australia With First New Album in 15 Years & Massive National Tour". Music Feeds . 31 December 2025. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 Fenwick, George (21 September 2025). "Bic Runga's new dawn: Motherhood, returning to Paris, and her first album in a decade". The Post . Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  7. ↑ "Bic Runga – Australian Tour 2026". Australian Music Scene. 21 November 2025. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  8. ↑ "Album Review: Red Sunset". muzic. 13 February 2026. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  9. ↑ "Bic Runga's Red Sunset is a thrilling mix of familiarity and forward-thinking". Radio New Zealand . 15 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  10. ↑ "BIC RUNGA Red Sunset". The Line of Best Fit . 14 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  11. ↑ "Official Top 40 Albums". Recorded Music NZ. 20 February 2026. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
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