Belle

Bic Runga is one of just a handful of New Zealand musicians who have truly earned the title ‘iconic’. Her songs are etched into the country’s con­sciousness. The five years since her last album of new material have passed quickly, at least for Bic. You could say life intervened – specifically the birth in 2007 of her son. “Motherhood is very nice. But there comes a point where it would be really easy to lose your identity, and if you didn’t return to your art you’d just become a pain to everyone around you.” The constraints of parenthood necessitated a new approach to her work, so she tried something she had never seriously contemplated before – and it led to an artistic rebirth. Bic embarked on a series of collaborations, including a co-write with Dan Hume of Evermore which resulted in the uplifting first single ‘Hello Hello’ – the #1 most added single at New Zealand radio this week. Bic continued to collaborate with a series of prestigious musicians, from James Milne (Laurence Arabia) on the epic ‘This Girl’s Prepared For War’, to Ruban and Kody Neilson (The Mint Chicks) on a number of tracks off the album. Kody was also enlisted as the producer for the album which took Bic in an uncharted direction. “What I like about working with Kody is he’s punk-spirited, and deep down I think I am too, I’m not ready to do what I’m told” Bic says. Since her first single ‘Drive’ in 1996 – a top ten hit when she was just twenty – she has been awarded almost every musical honour in the country, including the APRA Silver Scroll Songwriting Award, a brace of Tui’s and multi-platinum discs. Her debut album Drive (1997) went platinum seven times; Beautiful Collision followed in 2002 (eleven times platinum) and Birds in 2005 (triple platinum). She has shared stages with Neil and Tim Finn, Dave Dobbyn, members of Radiohead and Wilco. Her songs have featured in hit film soundtracks (American Pie), her records have been released around the world, and she has won followings in Europe, Asia and North America. In January 2006, The Queen made Runga a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Zealand New Year's Honours Lis­t. On November 17 Bic will embark on a 17 date, 12 city Acoustic Church Tour travelling as far North at Whangarei and as far South as Invercargill, performing in some of New Zealand’s most majestic Churches, Chapels and Cathedrals.