Bic Runga Photo: Supplied
Much loved singer songwriter Bic Runga is about to be inducted to the NZ Music Hall Of Fame, and has a new album out on Friday. Close Your Eyes includes ten cover versions of songs close to Runga's heart - she presents the originals of some of those for The Mixtape.
Bic Runga may be suffering a bout of writers block, but she says it's better to put out a covers album than nothing at all, and she's learned a lot from studying other people's songs.
"There's all sorts of problems when you record a covers album. Can you sing it and make it your own? Does it sound honest? Can you overcome the perception of the original, if it's an iconic song? Can you do it at all - can you play the chords? Because when I write my own songs, I'm in my comfort zone, it actually became too easy."
Produced in their home studio with Kody Neilson, the couple had to fight to make time to create Close Your Eyes. With three children in the house, it wasn't easy. Runga says "Sometimes they are literally screaming, banging on the door, and we're all 'go and watch telly! go and eat some chips!' It had its toll on the family, but we're really proud of it, and I owe it to the kids and all their chip eating to make the best of this, because it was really hard work."
Bic Runga will receive the Legacy Award at the NZ Music Awards on Thursday November 17th, and Close Your Eyes will be released on Friday November 18th.
Music Details
Artist: Kanye West
Song: Wolves
Composer: West Christopher Breaux Marcus Hoiberg Alan Brinsmead Goldstein Rutberg Young Ryan McDermott M. Dean Kirby Lauryen
Album: The Life Of Pablo
Label: Rocafella
Artist: Nick Drake
Song: Things Behind The Sun
Composer: Drake
Album: Pink Moon
Label: Island
Artist: The Blue Nile
Song: Tinseltown in the Rain
Composer: Bell, Buchanan
Album: A Walk Across The Rooftops
Label: Linn
Artist: Roberta Flack
Song: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Composer: MacColl
Album: First Take
Label: Atlantic
Artist: Mint Chicks
Song: Life Will Get Better Some Day
Composer: K Neilson
Album: Screens
Label: Flying Nun
Artist: Françoise Hardy
Song: Viens
Composer: Bilat, Tuca
Album: La Question
Label: Virgin
Artist: Neil Young
Song: Only Love Can Break Your Heart
Composer: Young
Album: After The Goldrush
Label: Reprise
