News Articles
The Australian
22 July, 2002
Stay tuned for the next Bic thing
Original content copyright 2002 to The Australian
Original article is at: www.theaustralian.news.com.au
22 July 2002
By
YOU know right away that Bic Runga is realistic about
her place in the music industry. "If I'm destined to remain obscure for the
rest of my life I think that's totally cool," the singer says. Fans of the 26-year-old in her native New Zealand would find the term
"obscure" baffling. At home she is a star, with awards and a string of
hit singles and multi-platinum success for her debut album Drive three
years ago.
Elsewhere, including in Australia, it has been a matter of keeping up her
profile, looking for the big breakthrough.
That time may have come with the arrival of her just-released second album, Beautiful
Collision. The new work contrasts dramatically with its predecessor, which
was recorded in New Zealand in just a few weeks. Collision was three
years in the making and involved eight recording studios in five cities,
including Los Angeles, New York and Auckland.
As a result it is a more polished work than her debut and more focused.
Critics were quick to spot references to Bjork, Kate Bush and even the Smiths in
her early work. Now the overriding impression is of a singer/songwriter with her
own style.
"I hope so," she says. "I did spend a lot of time thinking
about the songs and I didn't leave them until they were absolutely watertight.
It was akin to writing a book, because of the way I wrote it where every word
counted. It was kind of a literary exercise."
Some of New Zealand's finest musos guest on the record, including Dave
Dobbyn, Neil Finn and Runga's singing sister, Boh.
"I think Neil's amazing," she says. "He's been really good to
me. His level of input has been great. When he nails it, he nails it. He put
down over 30 tracks on some of my songs and said 'just keep what you think
sounds good to you'."
Songs such as Get Some Sleep, a jangly pop gem, and the acoustic,
soul-bearing See You Smile are reminiscent of Finn's melancholy pop
sensibility, but they also suggest a greater audience for Runga's craft is just
around the corner.
"It's a quality record and it will stand the test of time," she
suggests boldly. "It doesn't bother me if it's not a success now or next
year or the year after. I think it's one of those records that you might
discover after a few years. It's timeless, it's not a fashion statement."
Not that Runga would look out of place in the fashion pages. In the fickle
world of pop her good looks, due in part to her Chinese/Maori background, and a
talent for making well-crafted tunes, would seem the perfect combination.
But, although she admits an appreciation of Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent,
her main passions are of a more literary or musical nature, stretching from J.
D. Salinger to the Mamas and the Papas.
Runga is doing a show in Los Angeles later this week, with her sister on
backing vocals. She hopes to do some shows in Australia later in the year, when
the accent will also be on vocal harmonies. "I really like the idea of
doing a Mamas and the Papas type harmonies set-up," she says.
It's not the usual line that you find in media biographies, but it illustrates
Runga's determination to make it on her own terms.
Original content copyright 2002 to The Australian
