Bic Runga
New Zealand singer and songwriter
title: "Bic Runga" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1976-births", "living-people", "20th-century-guitarists", "20th-century-new-zealand-women-singers", "new-zealand-māori-women-singers", "21st-century-new-zealand-guitarists", "21st-century-new-zealand-women-singers", "apra-award-winners", "members-of-the-new-zealand-order-of-merit", "new-zealand-women-singer-songwriters", "new-zealand-singer-songwriters", "new-zealand-people-of-chinese-descent", "new-zealand-people-of-malaysian-descent", "ngāti-kahungunu-people", "people-educated-at-cashmere-high-school", "musicians-from-christchurch", "sony-music-new-zealand-artists", "māori-language-singers", "20th-century-women-guitarists", "21st-century-new-zealand-women-guitarists"] description: "New Zealand singer and songwriter" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bic_Runga" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary New Zealand singer and songwriter ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Bic Runga |
| honorific_suffix | |
| image | Runga2 small.jpg |
| caption | Runga performing on the 2010 Winery Tour, in Auckland, New Zealand |
| birth_name | Briolette Kah Bic Runga |
| birth_date | |
| birth_place | Christchurch, New Zealand |
| spouse | Kody Nielson |
| children | Three |
| relatives | Boh Runga (sister) |
| Pearl Runga (sister) | |
| module | {{Infobox musical artist |
| embed | yes |
| instruments | Vocals, guitar, drums |
| genre | Pop rock, folk rock |
| label | Sony New Zealand, Columbia |
| years_active | 1994–present |
| website | |
| :: |
| name = Bic Runga | honorific_suffix = | image = Runga2 small.jpg | caption = Runga performing on the 2010 Winery Tour, in Auckland, New Zealand | birth_name = Briolette Kah Bic Runga | alias = | birth_date = | birth_place = Christchurch, New Zealand | spouse = Kody Nielson | children = Three | relatives = Boh Runga (sister) Pearl Runga (sister) | module = {{Infobox musical artist | embed = yes | instruments = Vocals, guitar, drums | genre = Pop rock, folk rock | label = Sony New Zealand, Columbia | years_active = 1994–present | website =
Briolette Kah Bic Runga (born 13 January 1976), recording as Bic Runga, is a New Zealand singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist pop artist. Her first three studio albums debuted at number one on the New Zealand Top 40 Album charts. Runga has also found success internationally in Australia, Ireland and the United Kingdom with her 1997 song "Sway".
Early life
Runga was born in Christchurch. Her mother, Sophia Tang, was a Chinese Malaysian lounge singer in Malaysia when she met Joseph Te Okoro Runga (died 2005), a Māori ex-serviceman and self-taught pianist. The couple moved to New Zealand to live. Runga is of Ngāti Kahungunu descent. Regarding her name, she explains: "You say it Bec, rather than Bic.... It's Chinese, it's a strange vowel sound which doesn't seem to translate in Australia. It means the colour of jade, which might mean green."
Runga grew up in Hornby, Christchurch, surrounded by a musically inclined family, and started recording songs with her sisters, Boh (oldest) and Pearl, when she was four years old. Boh was the vocalist in the New Zealand rock group Stellar in the 1990s and 2000s, while Pearl is a session singer.
Runga learned how to play drums at the age of eleven, and guitar at about fourteen. She also learned to play the keyboard around this time to perform in jazz bands. She attended Cashmere High School, joining high school bands.
Career
1993–1997: Early career and ''Drive''
Main article: Drive (Bic Runga EP), Drive (Bic Runga album)
Under the name Love Soup, Runga and Kelly Horgan entered the 1993 Smokefreerockquest in Christchurch, achieving third place and a music contract with Pagan Records. Using a QE II Arts Council grant, Runga recorded the first Drive EP in Wellington. Unsatisfied with the direction that her music was being taken, she moved to Auckland in 1994 and spent a year writing and performing in cafés.
In 1995, she sent a new demo of "Drive" to Sony Music, which signed Runga in September of that year and bought her Wellington recordings from Pagan Records. Sony had her re-record the song with more instruments, but it was eventually her demo that was used on the upcoming album. "Drive" is described as a "haunting pop ballad", which she wrote minutes before her first Auckland performance. It entered the Top 10 in New Zealand and won her the APRA Silver Scroll award in 1996.
Runga then released "Bursting Through", the first single from her upcoming album, also entitled Drive. The success of the singles led to the release of her debut album, Drive, in 1997. Runga's song "Sway", along with a duet with Dan Wilson of Semisonic called "Good Morning Baby", were used in the films American Pie, and Cruel Intentions. Six singles were released from the album, while "Sway" was released in New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Germany.
Runga has recorded two songs called "Drive". The first was her own, which appeared on her debut album of the same name. The second was a 1999 collaboration with fellow New Zealanders Strawpeople, providing guest vocals for their cover of The Cars' classic 1984 hit.
2000–2008: ''Beautiful Collision'' and ''Birds''
Main article: Beautiful Collision, Birds (Bic Runga album), Birds, Try to Remember Everything
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/Bicrunga.jpg" caption="Runga performing in [[Dublin]] in 2004"] ::
In 2000, Runga toured with Tim Finn and Dave Dobbyn, resulting in a release of a live album in November 2000, titled Together in Concert: Live. It peaked at number 2 on the New Zealand charts and has been certified 3× platinum. Runga released her second solo album, Beautiful Collision in 2002. It entered the New Zealand charts at number one and has been certified 10× platinum in New Zealand.
Her third studio album, Birds, was released in New Zealand on 28 November 2005. New Zealand artists Neil Finn (piano) and Anika Moa (backing vocals) contributed to the album. The first single, "Winning Arrow", was released on the same day. It was her third consecutive studio album to enter the New Zealand charts at number one. Birds was certified triple platinum.
Runga played a 'Vietnamese lounge singer' in the 2005 film Little Fish, and covered Gene Pitney's "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart" for the soundtrack. In the 2006 New Year Honours, Runga was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to music.
In November 2008, Runga released Try to Remember Everything which is a collection of unreleased, new and rare Bic Runga recordings from 1996 to 2008. The album was certified Gold in New Zealand on 14 December 2008, selling over 7,500 copies.
2011–2015: ''Belle'' and ''Anthology''
Main article: Belle (album), Anthology (Bic Runga album)
Runga contributed to the score and soundtrack to New Zealand filmmaker Roseanne Liang's debut feature film My Wedding and Other Secrets (2011). In addition to featuring "Say After Me" from Birds, the film also included two tracks ("Hello Hello" and "This Girl's Prepared for War") from her fourth album Belle.
Belle was released in November 2011. Runga completed a 17 date tour across New Zealand and 13 dates across Ireland, United Kingdom and Australia.
A greatest hits album, Anthology, was released on 1 December 2012.
In June 2015, Runga released a new single titled "Dreamed a Dream". This was a collaboration with Hollie Fullbrook of Tiny Ruins, with whom she toured New Zealand in June and July 2015. As well as solo performances by both artists, these shows included covers of songs by Simon & Garfunkel, Yoko Ono, Francoise Hardy, Donovan and Fleetwood Mac.
2016–present: ''Close Your Eyes'' and ''New Zealand Music Hall of Fame''
Main article: Close Your Eyes (Bic Runga album)
In October 2016, it was announced that Runga would release an album of consisting of ten covers and two original tracks titled Close Your Eyes. "Close Your Eyes" was released on 14 October 2016 as a single.
In November 2016, Runga was inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame. Recorded Music CEO Damian Vaughan said "Bic is one of our most loved and treasured recording artists, her songs are instantly recognizable and have been part of the fabric of New Zealand for more than 20 years. We're honoured to present Bic with the 2016 Legacy Award and induct her into the NZ Music Hall of Fame".
In September 2025, she announced her upcoming sixth studio album, Red Sunset, due for release in 2026.
Personal life
Runga's partner is drummer Kody Nielson. She has three children. She has two sisters who are also musicians, Pearl Runga and Boh Runga.
Discography
Main article: Bic Runga discography
Studio albums
- Drive (1997)
- Beautiful Collision (2002)
- Birds (2005)
- Belle (2011)
- Close Your Eyes (2016)
- Red Sunset (2026)
Awards and nominations
Honours
In the 2006 New Year Honours Runga was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to music.
APRA Awards (New Zealand)
::data[format=table]
| Year | Award | For | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | APRA Silver Scroll | "Drive" | |
| :: |
New Zealand Music Awards
The New Zealand Music Awards are presented annually by Recorded Music NZ recognising outstanding artistic and technical achievements in the recording field. Winner of the most awards by any individual. ::data[format=table]
| Year | Award | For | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Rising Star Award | herself | |
| Most Promising Female Vocalist | herself | ||
| 1997 | Single of the Year | "Drive" | |
| Best Female Vocalist | herself | ||
| Best Songwriter | herself for "Bursting Through" | ||
| 1998 | Album of the Year | Drive | |
| Single of the Year | "Sway" | ||
| Best Female Vocalist | herself for "Sway" | ||
| Best Video | Wayne Conway for Runga's "Suddenly Strange" | ||
| Best Engineer | Simon Sheridan for Runga's "Sway" | ||
| Best Songwriter | Bic Runga's "Sway" | ||
| Best Cover | Wayne Conway for Runga's Drive | ||
| 1999 | International Achievement | Bic Runga | |
| 2000 | International Achievement | Bic Runga | |
| 2001 | Album of the Year | Tim Finn, Dave Dobbyn & Bic Runga Together in Concert: Live | |
| 2003 | Album of the Year | Beautiful Collision | |
| Single of the Year | "Get Some Sleep" | ||
| Best Female Vocalist | Bic Runga Beautiful Collision | ||
| Best Solo Artist | Bic Runga Beautiful Collision | ||
| Best Music Video | Chris Graham and Bic Runga for Runga's "Something Good" | ||
| Highest Selling New Zealand Album | Beautiful Collision | ||
| Producer of the Year | Bic Runga Beautiful Collision | ||
| 2003 | Best Female Solo Artist | Live in Concert | |
| Highest Selling New Zealand Album | Beautiful Collision | ||
| International Achievement | Bic Runga | ||
| 2006 | Album Of The Year | Birds | |
| Single of the Year | "Winning Arrow" | ||
| Best Female Solo Artist | Bic Runga Birds | ||
| Best Producer | Bic Runga Birds | ||
| Peoples Choice Award | herself | ||
| Best Engineer | Andre Upston for Runga's Birds | ||
| 2012 | Best Pop Album | Belle | |
| Best Producer | Kody Nielson for "Belle" | ||
| 2016 | New Zealand Music Hall of Fame | herself | |
| :: |
Rolling Stone Aotearoa Awards
::data[format=table]
| Year | Award | For | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Rolling Stone Icon Award | herself | |
| :: |
References
References
- Nimmervoll, Ed. "Bic Runga".
- "Neighbourhood". [[Television New Zealand]].
- Runga, Bic. (2005). "[[Birds (Bic Runga album)". [[Sony Music.
- Moses, Alexa. (13 September 2002). "Bic from the brink". [[The Sydney Morning Herald]].
- (16 August 2009). "Boh Runga's Heaven Sent". [[Sunday News (New Zealand).
- "Performing Arts". [[Cashmere High School]].
- "Bic Runga". Christchurch City Council.
- (31 December 2005). "New Year honours list 2006". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
- "The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Rianz.org.nz.
- (27 September 2011). "New single, tour for Bic Runga". [[The New Zealand Herald]].
- Jones, Bridget. (27 September 2011). "Bic's Belle rings out in church". [[Stuff.co.nz]].
- "BIC RUNGA".
- (5 July 2015). "Tiny Ruins and Bic Runga together – so good they should be called Tiny Runga". Stuff.co.nz.
- (2016). "BIC RUNGA CELEBRATED WITH 2016 NZ HERALD LEGACY AWARD". NZ Music Awards.
- (2016). "BIC RUNGA CELEBRATED WITH 2016 NZ HERALD LEGACY AWARD". NZ Music Awards.
- Fenwick, George. (21 September 2025). "Bic Runga’s new dawn: Motherhood, returning to Paris, and her first album in a decade".
- (2017). "Bic Runga on music, family, and why she wants to reinvent herself". Now to Love.
- (31 December 2005). "New Year honours list 2006". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
- (21 November 2025). "WATCH: Bic Runga Shares Stunning Music Video for New Single "Red Sunset"".
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