Bic In New Zealand

Making predictions is a dangerous game, even at this time of the year. But if singer-songwriter Bic Runga isn’t a name to contend with by the end of 2004, there is no justice etc. etc. Not necessarily a star of Norah Jones or Dido proportions perhaps – but certainly one with a much higher profile in this part of the world than she currently enjoys. As a singularly gifted creator of the kind of melodies that get under your skin and remain there indefinitely, she is a rare enough commodity. The fact that the 27 year-old New Zealand native is strikingly beautiful should do her no harm in the stardom stakes either.

Runga is certainly no over-hyped flash in the pan. Her 1997 debut, Drive, immediately established her as a star in her native land. It went on to become the biggest selling album by a local artist in New Zealand music history, winning a slew of awards – including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Vocal Performance and Best Songwriter.
“Being big in New Zealand is probably like being big in Ireland,” she says. “It means I don’t have to work in a bar or anything like that. I can make a good living at it and it has allowed me to live in Paris where I’ve just moved.”
But with a major deal in the bag it was never going to be just about New Zealand, as the album received a big push in America. Two songs were featured on the soundtrack of the movie American Pie, winning her a sizeable cult following.
“I can go to America now and play reasonable sized venues,” she says. “I feel like a proper musician when I go over there.”
Her second album Beautiful Collision, released late last year positively oozes memorable gems, intelligent lyrics and her own distinctive singing style – the current single, the jangly ‘Get Some Sleep’ being a perfect example of her way with a tune. The album also features REM sideman Joey Waronker and ex-Crowded House mainman Neil Finn with whom Bunga has also toured.
Born in Christchurch, New Zealand of a Maori father and Chinese mother, Runga’s exotic background goes someway towards explaining her individual approach.
“I guess I had a white upbringing but I was acutely aware that I wasn’t actually white so I kind of felt disenfranchised,” she explains. “I don’t know what it’s like now but there was a lot of racism in Christchurch back then and my mother had a really bad time of it. I was getting it from both camps both as a Maori and an Asian.”
Recognising some sort of latent talent in her daughter, Runga’s mother bought her a drum kit when she was just 11.
“It was a gold sparkly 1960’s Premier kit which was so uncool at the time and so cool and retro now,” Bic beams. “I was a good drummer. I haven’t really progressed that much. I’m trying to hang onto that naïve style of drumming. There’s nothing worse than that session style. But I’ve played drums on both of my records.”
She started writing songs around the same time she discovered The Smiths, as she explains.
“My mum was always playing Shirley Bassey and The Carpenters at home which stood me in good stead but I needed some male angst and The Smiths’ The Queen Is Dead was the first thing I discovered of my own accord. My friends made me tapes of bands like The Cure and when I was playing drums with boys in bands it was all about Led Zeppelin and The Doors. My own songs were terrible crap, very earnest.”
While her friends headed for college after leaving school, Runga sent a demo to Sony who promptly signed her. Surprisingly they sent her to Ireland to work on more demos.
“It was the first place I ever went to outside of New Zealand,” she reveals. “I was about 20 at the time. We holed up in a house in West Cork with Nick Seymour and had a go making a record. I remember some session players from An Emotional Fish came along.”
Just as it has done for other like-minded artists, Ireland could very well provide the launch pad for European success for Runga. In a recent promo visit here she recorded a slot on the new series of Other Voices – Songs From A Room, followed by a sell out show at Whelan’s. She’s due back here for more shows early in the New Year.
“Things are looking good,” she says. “I’m pretty sure of what I am now. When I was 20 it was ambiguous as to what I would become. I know now what’s me and what’s not me.”

Bic Runga gives her Beautiful Collision album a live airing at the Dublin Village on March 6