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Bic Runga with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, 2003
Credit: Photo by Mark Roach
This year marks 25 years since the Aotearoa band Stellar exploded onto the music charts in 1999 with multi-platinum album Mix. To celebrate the milestone, the band are back together, touring in early 2025. Along with their numerous hits including ‘Violent’, ‘Part of Me’ and ‘Undone’, they’ll also perform songs from their other albums Magic Line and Something Like Strangers.
To many listeners Mix sounded international and ahead of its time. The band, led by Boh Runga with her flaming red hair, had a clear and focused vision.
One of three children in a rather creative family, Runga has fond memories of growing up in Ōtautahi Christchurch. She recalls at age 13 catching the bus from Hornby to the Christchurch School of Instrumental Music for band practice. That was the start of her music career.
It was the late ‘80s in Christchurch when she met drummer Andrew Maclaren to potentially join his band as a vocalist. The two hit it off, writing music together. Eventually, in 1992 the pair moved up to Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland to find more opportunities and like-minded creatives.
Read the full story and listen to Fast Favourites on Radio NZ here.