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Photo Copyright 2006 - Darryl Ward
LAST UPDATE: 23 January, 2009.
For a history of the changes that have been made to this site click here.
23 January, 2009
Bic's world: An interview with Singapore's "New Strait
Times"
Bic’s world
By : Dennis Chua
2009/01/13
Bic Runga — Picture by Kevin Westenberg
One of New Zealand’s most successful female musicians, Bic Runga, speaks to
Dennis Chua about her Malaysian connection, family and music.
NEW Zealand singer-songwriter Bic Runga is marking her fourth trip to Malaysia
this week. She will also be spending two weeks of quality time with her mother’s
relatives in the Klang Valley.
“The last time I was in Kuala Lumpur was two years ago, for a holiday. My mum’s
cousins are all there and they follow my musical journey closely,” she said in a
phone interview last Thursday.
“It’s always great to be in KL, be it catching up with my relatives or singing
for my fans. It’s as good as my second home.”
Runga has just completed an album with rock groups Radiohead and Wilco, as well
as Johnny Marr of The Smiths and Crowded House’s Neil Finn.
“It’s an album for Oxfam and we completed it last week,” she said.
“I’m in the process of recording my fourth studio album, and it’ll be out in a
few months’ time.”
One of the highest-selling New Zealand artistes of all time, singer-songwriter
Runga was born Briolette Kah Bic Runga on Jan 13, 1976 in Christchurch, New
Zealand.
The daughter of Sophia Tang, a Malaysian lounge singer and the late Joseph Runga,
a Maori soldier on duty in Vietnam who met his wife while on leave in Malaysia,
Runga was named “Bic” for the colour of jade in Chinese.
She said: “It’s a strange vowel sound which doesn’t seem to translate in
English. Perhaps it’s a shade of green.”
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 only
four.
Runga’s elder sister Boh is now a vocalist in the New Zealand rock group Stellar
while Pearl is a sessions singer.
“My mother listened to The Carpenters, Dame Shirley Bassey, Barbra Streisand,
Dusty Springfield, The Mamas And The Papas, and The Beatles,” she said.
Runga learnt to play the drums at 11, and the guitar and keyboards at 14. She
attended Cashmere High School in Christchurch, later joining high school bands
and later performed with local jazz groups in her mid-teens.
“Boh taught me to write songs in my teens. It was around this time that I became
interested in rock and folk music. During high school, I loved Jimi Hendrix and
Led Zeppelin,” she said.
Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and Sir Elton John are among her celebrity fans. Runga
met them both during her concerts in London some years ago.
“I’ve always loved Jimmy and Sir Elton, and we had a drink together,” she said.
Choosing between art school and music, Runga decided to move to Auckland, where
she found music label Sony Music’s address and sent in some demo tracks.
A song called Drive caught the attention of the label and a deal was struck,
propelling Runga on the road to becoming New Zealand’s most successful female
musician.
Runga and her frequent collaborator Kelly Horgan entered the 1993 Smoke Free
Rock Quest in Wellington under the name Love Soup. They came in third. Then,
with a Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council grant, Runga recorded the first Drive EP
in Wellington.
In 1995, the song entered the Top 10 in New Zealand and won her the Silver
Scroll Songwriting Award 1996.
Runga next released Bursting Through, her first single from her upcoming album,
also titled Drive.
Drive the album also had a monster hit in the single Sway. The album remained in
the Top 10 for 20 consecutive weeks, going seven times platinum, and became the
highest-selling album in NZ.
“There was also Good Morning Baby, a duet with Dan Wilson of Semisonic.
“This song and Sway made their way into the soundtracks of American Pie and
Cruel Intentions,” she said.
The high regard for Runga and Drive were apparent at the 1998 New Zealand Music
Awards. She won six awards including Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Best
Female Vocalist and Best Songwriter.
Runga has recorded not one, but two songs called . The second, a 1999
collaboration with fellow New Zealanders Strawpeople, was a cover version of The
Cars’ classic 1984 hit, written by Ric Ocasek.
Her second album, Beautiful Collision, was released in 2002 and surpassed 11
times platinum sales in New Zealand.
The album received rave reviews, and the hit single Get Some Sleep reached the
Top 10 in Japan and Ireland, and earned her Best Producer at the New Zealand
Music Awards that year.
Of her success in songwriting, Runga said: “The trick is to give a little bit of
what’s unexpected.”
Having spent most of 2003 and 2004 living in Paris and London, Runga returned
home to New Zealand in 2005.
Sadly, her father died that year, but she went on to complete a world tour,
playing as a soloist in support of Crowded House brothers Neil and Tim Finn.
“Neil has long been a fan of my music and contributed vocals to Beautiful
Collision,” she said.
Runga’s third studio album, Birds, was released in 2005 and went triple
platinum. It had major hits in Winning Arrow and Say After Me.
She describes Birds as a “pretty dark” album. “The reference to birds is Maori
mythology where birds are messengers from the underworld.”
Runga released Try To Remember Everything last November. The album contains 14
unreleased recordings made between 1996 and 2008.
“It’s a collection of B-sides and live tracks spanning 12 years. There’s a new
song called Everyone Must Love,” she said.
Besides singing and writing music, Runga hosted a music-related television
programme when she was 18 and has also dabbled in acting.
“I was a Vietnamese lounge singer in the 2005 Cate Blanchett film Little Fish,
and covered Gene Pitney’s Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart,” she said.
Runga became a mother last year to Joseph. The father is the singer’s longtime
partner, photographer Darryl Ward.
In 2006, the then New Zealand governor-general Dame Silvia Cartwright awarded
Runga the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to the nation.
Runga will be performing at the invitation-only launch of the new BMW 7 Series
at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, from
tomorrow till Friday at 8pm.
The original article can be found
here.
23 January 2009
Interview with Malaysia's "Sun" newspaper
Songs from her heart
by
S. Indra Sathiabala
It
was interesting going
through 30 boxes of
songs – looking back at
my career and see what
I did well and what I did
badly." – Bic Runga
THE first time I met Bic Runga was right after the release of her debut
album Drive and she was in Malaysia for a promotional show.
Runga looked more like a rocker chick then and was deeply annoyed at the way
Malaysians were going ga-ga over third-rate boy bands that were coming here on a
regular basis.
These days, this New Zealander is a far calmer person who
seems contented with the world.
The 33-year-old singer is part Malaysian. She is the third
daughter of a Maori soldier, the late Joseph Runga, who married Ipoh-born
cabaret singer Sophia Tang whom he met in Malaysia during the Vietnam War.
Growing up in Christchurch, Runga learnt how to play drums at
the age of 11 and went on to pick up the basics for guitar and keyboard.
In 1995, she sent a demo of her single, Drive, to Sony
Music. The record company signed her on and her song became a big hit.
Her first album Drive (1997) became a bestseller not
only in New Zealand but also in Europe and the UK. The single Sway from
the album, along with a duet with Dan Wilson of Semisonic called Good Morning
Baby, were featured in the films American Pie and Cruel
Intentions.
Subsequent albums, Beautiful Collision (2002) and
Birds (2005), were also well received.
Last year, Runga released Try to Remember, which
features previously unreleased songs that she wrote over the years. Some of the
songs were written when she was just 19.
"They are mostly songs that wouldn’t fit the other albums,"
she explained during a recent interview. "They were mostly live recordings which
we never released.
"It was interesting going through 30 boxes of songs – looking
back at my career and see what I did well and what I did badly."
"The reason we did this record is to touch base with fans and
let them know that I have not completely gone AWOL."
Being a mother (her son Joseph is one-and-a-half years old)
has given Runga a different perspective of life. "I looked back at my songs and
wondered what I was so sad about," she said with a laugh.
So, her new album, which is scheduled to be released later
this year, will showcase her new outlook. She also expressed a wish to write
more songs about the feelings awakened in her by her son.
Runga has lived in Paris, London and New York but
Christchurch is still home.
Between albums, she has recorded some live albums and
performed at concerts including the recent one under BMW Group Malaysia at the
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
She recently played the role of a Vietnamese nightclub singer
in a movie called Little Fish (2005) which starred Academy award-winner
Cate Blanchett.
She hasn’t given much thought to making more movies or even
musicals. However, she was more than happy to be a part of Little Fish as
it gave her a chance to meet her favourite actress, Blanchett.
She has recently joined Crowded House frontman Neil Finn on a
new album where the profits from its sale will all be donated to global aid
agency Oxfam.
Other artistes featured on the album, due for release this year, include Jeff
Tweedy, John Stirratt, Wilco’s Glenn Kotche and Pat Sansone, and Don McGlashan.
The original article can be found
here
23 January 2009
Interview with Malysia's "staronline"
New Zealander singer Bic
Runga hails from a musically inclined family.
Her mother was a cabaret singer while her elder sisters were band members.
January 20, 2009
Bic Runga is
true to her art
By MUMTAJ BEGUM
Acclaimed Kiwi singer-songwriter Bic Runga talks about her
fruitful career and meeting her music heroes.It is easy
to see why Bic Runga is loved by New Zealanders and has a
faithful following in other parts of the world especially in
Britain.
Firstly, because her music is easy on the ears with its
earthy, unique sound and her voice is a pure delight to listen
to. Secondly, those who’ve met her, even briefly, will find out
that she’s a friendly person with a warm personality and no airs
about herself despite her acclaim and successes.
This became immediately obvious in a recent conversation with
the singer, who wore (gosh!) very little make-up, a simple black
dress and a pair of sandals. Last week, Runga flew in to Kuala
Lumpur to perform at the launch of the new BMW 7-Series for
three nights before continuing her journey to her mother’s
hometown in Ipoh and a stop to Singapore before returning home
to New Zealand where she’s currently based.
Her wanting to keep things simple is apparent not only in her
appearance but also in her songs, and when she goes on stage it
is usually just her and a guitar. Fuss free some may call it,
but that minimalism is ingrained in her personality. No wonder
then when asked about how the Queen (in January 2006) made Runga
a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, she needed a moment
to recall the exact title that was bestowed upon her.
In the end, Runga confessed that she was unable to accept it
personally as she was overseas at that time, but she assured
that the badge she was sent is “somewhere” before breaking into
a laughter which revealed a deep dimple on her right cheek.
Nonetheless, the 32-year-old acknowledged that it’s nice to
be honoured in that manner. “But also it’s quite humbling as
well because you are honoured with the people who’ve given to
society. It’s nice to know that you are doing a service,
although you don’t think of it that way.”
It’s logical that Runga does not see making music as a form
of service; after all, music is something that Runga has been
born into and is blessed with.
It doesn’t need reiterating that Briolette Kah Bic Runga
comes from a musical family – her mother, Sophia Tan, was a
Chinese-Malaysian cabaret singer when she met Joseph Runga, a
Maori soldier on leave from Vietnam, and Bic has also watched
her two elder sisters (Boh and Pearl Runga) perform with their
respective bands in New Zealand since she was young.
Runga has three full albums to her name from the time she
made her debut when she was just about to turn 20, and each
album has yet to disappoint, especially her last titled Birds.
Her first single, Sway, from her debut album Drive,
is a tune that is popular till today.
Although she said that her priority has shifted since having
a baby last July with her partner, photographer Darryl Ward, she
might change her mind. Her career pace has gone slower, she’s
not taking so many projects, but 2009 is still looking like a
busy year for her. Most recently, she released a compilation
album called Try to Remember Everything, which comprises
some of her unreleased tracks and B-sides. Unfortunately, this
album is released in New Zealand only. Over the Christmas and
New Year period, she was busy recording an album in aid of Oxfam
International (an organisation working to end poverty and
injustice around the world), initiated by Crowded House’s Neil
Finn, which also features Phil Selway and Ed O’Brien from
Radiohead, Johnny Marr (the Smiths), Wilco and KT Tunstall,
which is scheduled for release later this year. Early this year,
she performed with them at the Seven Worlds Collide concert in
Auckland. To top it off, she’s in the midst of writing new
material for her next album (also due this year), which is going
to be recorded in Los Angeles.
Despite having a busy music life, she admitted that keeping
it up is not that easy.
“It’s not a walk in the park,” she began. “I’ve tried to be
true to myself, I suppose. I think that’s really what’s
important, because of all the things that people want you to be
it’s always good to be what you want to be yourself.”
Another advantage of having been true to herself is that she
has gotten a vast fan-base among fellow musicians including
Elton John and Jimmy Page. As it happens, Runga is a big fan of
Led Zeppelin so meeting Page three years ago before one of her
shows in Britain, was indeed an exciting time for her. “We
talked about blues and live records. He’s really funny. It was
one of the top three days of my life.”
She added, “It’s been really great making music for the past
12 years because I’ve met a lot of my heroes. This record (for
Oxfam) has been especially exciting because, one time or
another, each of member those band (involved) have had a big
influence on me. I went to see Radiohead when I was 17, and I
saw Wilco about six years ago and was totally blown away.
“The Smiths was the first band that I discovered outside of
my parents music when I was about 13 and I just remember
learning all their songs and now Johnny Marr is in this project
as well so just two weeks ago I was writing a song with him.
It’s pretty amazing playing with your heroes. It’s too good to
be true.”
The original article can be viewed
here
21 November, 2008
New album, "Try To Remember Everything" due out
December, 2008
Bic has a new record due out at the beginning of December, 2008.
It is called "Try to Remember Everything".
Rumoured to be a collection of, to date, un-released and rare
material from the 1996 to 2000 era, it promises to be a mix of material between
the release of "Drive", and the three year lull until the release of "Beautiful
Collision".
Hopefully it will include some of the tracks from the "lost
album", the planned album that was dropped once the writing & recording of
"Beautiful Collision" commenced. As Bic said in
an interview at
the time:
"When I knew what
it was that I wanted, it made everything flow a lot quicker. When I knew not to
try to make an innovative hip hop record and I knew not to go down a dishonest
path, then it made everything a lot easier."
More details will be published as
available over the next few days.
UPDATE: 22/11/2008:
"Now, three years on from the recording of 'Birds', Bic releases
this eagerly awaited collection. 'Try to Remember Everything' brings together
some brilliant previously unreleased songs and alternate versions of hits from
her incredible career -- rare Bic Runga recordings from 1996 to 2008.
"So much was recorded between these years and it was a great discovery to go
through some 30 boxes of sessions that Sony had in storage. I'm glad to have had
a look back and a second chance to release these tracks. Many are out takes from
the studio records, some are live performances on the radio which I remembered
felt good at the time. Some are old demos. All are songs that I'm happy for you
to now have in your hands."
- Bic Runga
'Try to Remember Everything' also features a brand new song called "Everybody
Must Love" (recorded in the US) and a new recording of "Strangers Again"
(written and originally recorded by 80s Dunedin band, Sneaky Feelings).
Since emerging at 19 years old with her debut single "Drive", Bic has become a
true international artist taking her to the top of charts at home and around the
world. 'Try to Remember Everything' is an essential addition to the Bic Runga
catalogue. Meanwhile Bic writes and prepares for her next album, due for release
in 2009."
Update: 27/11/2008 - Track Listing
1. All fall down (Runga) – out take from Drive
2. The Daily Grind (Runga) – demo from Beautiful Collision, previously
unreleased
3. Blue Blue Heart (Runga) – demo version from Birds
4. Gracie (Runga) – out take from Beautiful Collision
5. A Day Like Today (Runga)– out take from Beautiful Collision
6. Strangers Again (Durante) - recorded for Radio New Zealand, previously
unreleased
7. Autumn Leaves (Kosma/Prevert/Mercer) – out take from "Live with the
Christchurch Symphony Orchestra," previously unreleased
8. Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart (Greenaway/Cook)– out take from
"Birds"
9. Dust (Runga)– recorded for Radio New Zealand
10. Drive (Runga) – recorded live at the Civic Theatre
11. Everyone Must Love (Runga/Messer) – new and unreleased
12. Sway Live on KCRW previously unreleased
13. Close the Door Put Out the Light recorded for Radio New Zealand
21 July, 2007
It's a boy!!
Bic had a baby boy, delivered on Friday, 20 July, 2007 at
11:45pm. Eight pounds six ounces, the new-born purportedly has the Runga hair.
Mum is well!
Congratulations to Bic & Darryl, you will be great parents.
31 January, 2007
Bic is pregnant!
Bic announced on her MySpace site (
http://www.myspace.com/bicrunga )
that she is pregnant, due in July:
"Hey, this is Bic..
Sorry you haven't heard from me for a bit. I've got a really good excuse. I'm
quite pregnant, i thought you might want to hear it from me... in case you see
me eating pies on High St.
Due in July... pretty excited! The tour starts this week too. It's torture
finding clothes to wear. It's a good thing tent dresses are back. Otherwise
there might be trouble.
So, looking forward to the first show this Sunday. Just come out of the feeling
sick phase. Been really bored lying in bed eating malt biscuits, so very happy
to be on the road. See you soon..
Bic"
Congratulations to Bic & Darryl.
11 December. 2006
Acoustic Winery Tour 2007
Breaking with the traditional New Zealand Summer beach tour, Bic Runga is
heading out to play in the stunning surroundings of some of Aotearoa's most
picturesque wineries and estates.
Bic is taking out a new band and a bagful of the finest tunes from each of her
albums, including 'Drive', 'Sway', 'Something Good' and 'Winning Arrow', to
create a fantastic experience for fans of great music and indulgent times.
Wonderful songs, food and wine make good company on summer evenings in these
spectacular outdoor locations.
2006 has been another amazing year in Bic's career. She was made a Member of
the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to music in the New Year's
Honours list and then spent the year touring the world in support of her third
album, Birds. And Bic met some famous fans of hers along the way too - she was
photographed in London for Mojo magazine with Led Zeppelin legend Jimmy Page and
was then pictured in the papers with a smiling Elton John at a UK music awards
night.
Bic rounded out the year by taking her tally of NZ Music Awards to eighteen
when she was awarded four Tuis for Birds including Best Female Solo Artist and
Album of the Year.
Boh Runga joins Bic on the bill for the 2007 Acoustic Winery tour. Boh will
be performing songs from her Stellar songbook including the group's
just-released third album, Something Like Strangers.
Don't miss the opportunity to hear the beautiful vocals of Bic Runga and Boh
Runga echoing throughout New Zealand vineyards this summer. Tickets for the tour
go on sale next week.
Tour Dates:
Sunday 4 February - Ascension
Vineyard - Matakana
Friday 9 February - Pegasus Bay Winery
- Waipara
Saturday 10 February - Millbrook -
Queenstown
Friday 16 February - Okurukuru Winery - New Plymouth
Saturday 17 February - Morton
Estate Winery - Katikati
Friday 2 March - The
Black Barn - Napier
Saturday 3 March - Alana Estate -
Martinborough
Tickets are available from Ticketek, Ticket Direct and Venues
(Content from www.bicrunga.com)
20 March, 2006
A review of BIRDS by MAX TV in Australia
MAX TV in Australia has a review and interview with Bic on their
website. Check out their
website . The link to the video interview / review can be found on the front
page in the TOURS section.
20 March, 2006
UK Tour May/June 2006
JUNE 2006
Thu 8 LEICESTER - THE MUSICIAN
ph 0044(0)116 2554854
http://www.magic-teapot.co.uk
Wed 21 NORWICH ARTS CENTRE
, St Benedicts Street, Norwich, NR2 4PG
http://www.gigsandtours.com
MAY 2006
Sat 27
BRIGHTON SPIEGELTENT ph 0044(0)1273 647100
http://www.komedia.co.uk
Tue 23 CORK AN CRUISCIN
Mon 22 DUBLIN VILLAGE
Sat 20 LIMERICK DOLANS WAREHOUSE
- Dolans Pub - Dock Road - Limerick
Fri 19 GALWAY ROISIN DUBH
Wed 17 LONDON BUSH HALL -
Bush Hall, 310 Uxbridge Road, London, W12 7LJ -
http://www.gigsandtours.com
Thu 16 BRISTOL LOUISIANA, Wapping
Road, Bathurst Terrace, Bristol BS1 6UA.
http://www.gigsandtours.com
Thu 4
MANCHESTER LIFE CAFÉ 23 Peter Street, (opposite Great Northern) ,Manchester
M2 5QR
Tel: 0161-833-3000
http://www.gigsandtours.com
Wed 3 LONDON SCALA 275
Pentonville Road, Kings Cross, London N1 9NL
http://www.gigsandtours.com
Tue 2 BIRMINGHAM GLEE CLUB, The Glee
Club Birmingham, Hurst Street, Birmingham, B5
http://www.gigsandtours.com
6 March, 2006
An interview with Bic by SonyBMG
There is an
audio interview with Bic at the SonyBMG Australia website, prior to the
release of BIRDS in Australia.
6 March, 2006
www.bicrunga.co.uk open
Bic's new site in the UK is now open,
www.bicrunga.co.uk
5 March, 2006
I Like Music.com interview
Bic Runga - Birds /
Say After Me
3 March, 2006
"Bic Runga’s first two albums “Drive” and “Beautiful Collision”
are collectively 18 times Platinum and both entered the New Zealand Chart at #1.
Her third album “Birds” released in the UK on the 8th May is her third
consecutive #1 album and is already certified platinum.
Female singer songwriters dominated the charts in 2005 with the overnight
success of KT Tunstall, Katie Melua’s outstanding record sales and the long
overdue return of Kate Bush. Bic Runga might well be the success story of 2006,
her first two albums received huge critical acclaim in the UK and her last album
“Beautiful Collision” was hailed as one of the best album of the year in Mojo
and Uncut in their end of year round ups as did Sunday Times Culture in 2004."
For a copy of this article,
go
here.
5 March, 2006
The Sunday Mail interview - Kiwi's a bird of paradise
5 March, 2006
Sally Browne "SHE'S the best selling New Zealand artist
– and, yes, that includes Crowded House – and her songs have even appeared on
karaoke games. But ask 30-year-old Bic Runga about her success and she'll shrug
it off modestly.
Best-selling singer/songwriter Bic Runga's new album tells of fallen beauty and
love and is inspired by the strange feathered species of her country. She spoke
to "Wacky, hey?" she says of the "best-selling" title. "I don't really think
much about it." "
For a copy of this article,
go
here.
5 March, 2006
Sydney Morning Herald Interview
Big voice in a small world
Big voice in a small world
By Sacha Molitorisz
March 4, 2006
A question: who ranks as the highest-selling New Zealand artist ever? Is it
a) Neil Finn; b) Tim Finn; c) Russell Crowe; or d) Bic Runga?
The answer is Runga, a songbird as big in her homeland as she is small
outside it. She's not the winner of some overhyped talent quest such as Kiwi
Idol; instead, she's a talented singer-songwriter with a beautiful voice
and a knack for writing lilting, catchy melodies. Tellingly, she has a big fan
in Neil Finn and many more fans at her record label, Sony.
For a copy of this article,
go
here.
1 March, 2006
Bic Runga National Tour - Extra Shows & Date Changes
There have been changes to Bic's NZ National Tour dates as
follows:
-Thursday, 23 March, 2006: Extra Show at Neudorf Vineyard,
Nelson
-Wednesday, 29 March, 2006: Date change for Hamilton concert
(was Thusday, 30 March, 2006).
-Thursday, 30 March, 2006: Extra show at Tauranga (Holy
Trinity).
Updated schedule, check here.
27 February, 2006
Boh performs at Auckland Zoo
On 21 January, 2006, Boh performed, along with Kurt (bass player
from Stellar*) and Steve (live performance Stellar* keyboard player) at the
Auckland Zoo, as part of the Coca-Cola ZooMusic series.
Thanks to the generosity of
Patrick Meadows (Auckland Zoo photographer),
Claire Vial, and
Auckland Zoo, we are able
to show you the great photo's from the evening concert.
Check them out here.
17 February, 2006
Bic features in Time Magazine (South Pacific Edition)
Bic features in the February 20, 2006 issue of Time Magazine
(South Pacific), with an excellent & well written review of BIRDS by Michael
Fitzgerald, in the article 'On The Darker Wings Of Song'.
A copy of the article can be found
here.
17 February, 2006
BIRDS Australian CD Releases
Two editions of BIRDS are to be released in Australia in March,
2006.
The 'BIRDS - Tour Edition' (details
here) will be released on 6 March, 2006, to coincide with Bic's concerts in
Sydney and Melbourne. This CD will feature a bonus disc, with additional live
tracks as follows:
-Birds - Live Version
-Blue Blue Heart - Live Version
-Ruby Nights - Live Version
-Listen - Live Version
-The Be All & End All - Live Version
Also, on 13 March, 2006, the official release of the BIRDS
Australian Edition album will be released. Details
here.
3 February, 2006
BIRDS Australian Release
Concerts
March 17th, 2006: State Theatre
Sydney.
March 16th, 2006:
Hammer Hall- Melbourne (This is part of the
Vic Arts Centre by the river, same Venue the Finn Brothers played).
3 February, 2006
Bic to perform New Zealand tour in March, 2006
Following her Australian tour in March, 2006, Bic will be
performing in a series of venues around New Zealand, accompanied by her full
BIRDS album studio band.
Venues will include indoor and outdoor venues, from churches,
concert halls to vineyards.
Press Release details:
Bic Runga – the ‘Birds’ tour
The studio band takes flight
The
outstanding line-up of musicians who worked on Bic Runga’s latest album will
re-unite for her forthcoming tour beginning on March 19.
The concerts
offer the rare opportunity to see and hear on one stage Bic Runga,
Neil Finn, Anika Moa, Shayne Carter, Anna Coddington (Duchess), Riky
Gooch (Trinity Roots), Ben Maitland (Boxcar Guitars), Tim
Arnold (Pluto) and Conrad Standish (The Devastations)
Venues
include the glorious outdoor settings of Invercargill’s Anderson Park, the Lawns
of Caccia Birch mansion in Palmerston North, Neudorf Vineyards in Nelson,
Whangarei’s Museum Lawns and Tahaki Reserve in Auckland, together with some of
the country’s premier theatres.
Although
released only shortly before year-end, Bic’s album ‘Birds’ entered the charts at
No 1, has soared to the top of ‘CD of the year’ listings and has already sold
in excess of triple-platinum. This is the first time for fans outside of
Auckland to see the album translated onto the live stage.
Concert-goers
will also be treated to the well-known songs that helped her debut album,
‘Drive’, achieve sales of 7x platinum and the follow-up ‘Beautiful Collision’,
an incredible 11x platinum.
Runga
continues to make inroads overseas, and will complete a promotional visit to
Europe before the tour to build on her firm base of single success in Ireland
and the UK.
Flight of the
Conchords *, another act achieving attention in Europe, will open the shows, and
Anika Moa will add a solo slot to the outdoor dates.
Tickets are
on-sale from February 7 and further in-depth ticketing and general information
is available at
www.bicrunga.com
But
quietly...........Tickets are available early to fans by visiting
www.bicrunga.com and clicking on the
link
on the news page.
* Except Invercargill/con
|
MARCH |
|
|
|
| SUN |
19 |
Invercargill |
Anderson Park |
|
MON |
20 |
(Invercargill Rain Date) |
|
| TUES |
21 |
Dunedin |
Town Hall |
| WED |
22 |
Christchurch |
Christchurch Theatre Royal |
| THURS |
23 |
Nelson |
Neudorf Vineyard
EXTRA SHOW |
| FRI |
24 |
Nelson |
Neudorf Vineyard |
| SAT |
25 |
Wellington |
Michael Fowler Centre |
| SUN |
26 |
Palmerston North |
The Lawns of Caccia Birch |
|
MON |
27 |
(Palmerston North Rain Date) |
|
| TUES |
28 |
Napier |
Municipal Theatre |
| WED |
29 |
Hamilton |
Founders Theatre DATE CHANGE |
| THURS |
30 |
Tauranga |
Holy
Trinity EXTRA SHOW |
| FRI |
31 |
Tauranga |
Holy
Trinity |
| |
|
|
|
|
APRIL |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| SAT |
1 |
Auckland |
Tahaki Reserve Mt Eden |
| SUN |
2 |
Whangarei |
Museum Lawns |
| MON |
3 |
(Whangarei Rain Date) |
|
| TUES |
4 |
Auckland Rain Date) |
|
31 January, 2006
Bic to perform in London 28 February 2006
Bic is playing one show at
Dingwalls on 28th
February. She will be joined by Boxcar Benny Maitland on guitar and Neil Finn on
piano,
playing songs from all her records including selections from the new album
"Birds". This show will sell out. Tickets are £12.50 and they
go on sale today from
http://www.gigsandtours.com or at
www.ticketweb.co.uk
20 January, 2006
BIRDS to be released in Australia March, 2006
The new Bic Runga album, BIRDS, will be released in Australia on
13 March, 2006. There will be a a series of live concerts around that time, in
Sydney and Melbourne.
Bic will possibly be accompanied by her studio band.
Joey Waronker (drummer on BIRDS) is currently in studio at
Roundhead Recording Studio in Auckland recording with Neil Finn for his new solo
album. And POSSIBLY Neil Finn will accompany Bic on her Aussi tour, as he
enjoyed the Auckland gigs so much.
Dates for concerts to follow.
16 January, 2006
Boh to perform new Stellar* album material at Auckland Zoo
Award-winning singer-songwriter Boh Runga, with special guest
Nathan King, get the series off to a stellar start on
Saturday 21 January. Both these artists, who have songs featured in
APRA's "Top 100 New Zealand Songs of All Time", will be performing material from
their respective upcoming new albums. Fresh from working on the much-anticipated
third album from stellar*, Boh Runga lends the only female voice to the series,
which runs until March.
Nathan King, lead singer of the former smash hit Kiwi band Zed, takes
the stage after acoustic brother duo Chris and Graham Sanders, to perform an
acoustic set of new songs from his upcoming solo album. Some old Zed favourites
could also be featured in his line-up!
This
performance will be part of the Auckland Zoo 'Zoo Music' series of concerts over
summer. The
lush and intimate surrounds of Auckland Zoo again play host to New Zealand's
hottest bands this summer, during seven fantastic concerts in the Coca-Cola
ZooMusic series (Saturday 21 January to Sunday 5 March 2006).
Check out the details at the
Zoo Music page.
11 January, 2006
BIRDS to be released in the UK - April 2006
The new Bic Runga album, BIRDS, will be released in the UK on 3
April, 2006. There is likely to be a UK tour around that time.
More details to come.
31 December, 2005
BIRDS wins NZ Herald Album of the Year Award
Bic Runga won the New Zealand Herald
'Timeout' magazine album of the year for her third long-player, Birds. Reporter
Rebecca Barry talked to the singer/songwriter about her topsy-turvy year.
The interview, 'New mood takes wing for Runga' can be found
here.
31 December, 2005
Bic awarded an MNZM in Kiwi New Years Honours List
Bic has been awarded an MNZM (Member of the New Zealand Order of
Merit) in the New Years Honours List for 2006, for services to music.
Bic was unable to be contacted for comment, as she is currently
on holiday in China with her mother, and sister, Boh.
20 December, 2005
Campbell Smith & Boh at home
An interview with Campbell Smith (Bic's
manager) and wife Boh at their home in Auckland. This article appeared in Sunday
Star-Times 'Sunday' magazine in December, 2005. Photograph appears with
permission from Patrick Reynolds
Photography Limited.
25 November, 2005
Bic's new album set to soar
An interview with Bic about her new album, BIRDS, by Stuff.co.nz
talks about the making of the album, the artists that appear on the album, and
the inspirations for songs on the album.
"It feels like a very New Zealand album, it feels like a soulful album,"
Runga says.
"It's not a commercial album - I'm not trying to break America or anything -
it's just my down home album."
The interview can be found here.
19 November, 2005
'Birds' album details
The track listing for 'Birds' is out.
 |
That's Alright
|
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Birds
|
|
Listen
|
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Blue Blue Heart
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Say After Me
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If I Had You
|
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No Crying No More
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Winning Arrow
|
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Captured
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Ruby Nights
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Its Over
|
19 November, 2005
Wings of Desire
A Review of 'Birds'
"If you leave aside the pre-digested
schmaltz of Hayley Westenra, and you really should, then Bic Runga is New
Zealand's biggest-selling female artist. Her albums, Drive (1996) and Beautiful
Collision (2002), have sold 105,000 and 165,000 copies here respectively, as
well as a good few thousand overseas, and "Get Some Sleep" made the top 10 in
Ireland and Japan as well as grazing the UK top 40. Which means there's an awful
lot riding on studio album number three, for Runga and her record company.
To keep Runga's more discerning fans happy, the new album needs to feel like a
progression from the youthful bedroom ruminations of Drive and the articulate
orchestral pop of Beautiful Collision. And to sell well and consolidate her
burgeoning overseas success, it needs to contain a couple of plausible radio
hits.
Fortunately, it succeeds on both counts."
To read the full review,
click here.
3 November, 2005
Winning Arrow Track Listing
The track listing for Winning Arrow has been released. Tracks
are as follows:
|
Winning Arrow
|
|
Somewhere in the night
|
|
Winning Arrow (Video) |
A Limited Edition 10" vinyl single will also be available, with
two different tracks to the CD single.
17 October, 2005
Birds Concert Poster
The launch concert for the 'BIRDS' album is now being
advertised, with the concert coinciding with the album release on 28 November,
2005.
Click on image for a larger
view
Tickets are available at Ticketek.
Poster image copyright to, and used with permission from Eccles
Entertainment Limited, the concert promoter.
12 October, 2005
Details of 'BIRD's album emerging
Some details of the upcoming album, 'Birds' are starting to
emerge.
-The album was recorded in Auckland’s Monte
Cecilia House in Hillsborough in August 2005.
-'Birds' was mixed with Bic by
Simon Gogerly, renowned for his work alongside Nellie
Hooper and with artists as diverse as the Rolling Stones, Cat Stevens and mixing
U2’s latest single.
-The album features
an eight piece string section and further instrumentation including French horn,
flute, harp and clarinet.
-Supporting artists on the record include
Neil Finn - pianist/guitarist; Anika
Moa - Vocals; Shayne
Carter - Vocals; Anna Coddington - Vocals; Trinity
Roots’ Riki Gooch on drums; Conrad Standish of acclaimed Melbourne band The Devastations
on bass; “Boxcar
Benny” Maitland ; and Pluto’s
Tim
Arnold on guitars.
For a more detailed brief on Bird's, check
out the 'About Bird's' page.
1 October, 2005
'Up with the birds'
NZ Herald, Saturday 1 October, 2005
Bic Runga is launching her long awaited third album by playing
it live in a one off concert backed by the supergroup of big local names who
played on the recording.
The album, titled Birds, will be released on November 28 with a concert at
Auckland's Civic Theatre.
In the singer - songwriters backing band will be Neil Finn, Shayne Carter, Anika
Moa, Ricky Gooch (Trinity Roots), Ben Maitland (Boxcar Guitars), Tim Arnold
(Pluto), Conrad Standish (The Devestations) and Ann Coddington (Duchess).
The musicians were all involved in the recording sessions. Runga produced the
album in a temporary shed set up in a large house in the Auckland suburb of
Hillsborough.
The first single from the album Winning Arrow is out this week.
Tickets for the Civic show go on sale October 10.
29 September, 2005
New single 'Winning Arrow' released
The new single from Bic's upcoming album,
due to be released in New Zealand, is to appear in the shops in NZ 3 October,
2005.
The single was released to radio today.
More news as it becomes available.
Email the webmaster:
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