Bic’s back in action

Although Kiwi songbird Bic Runga’s 15-year-career has seen her release four stellar albums so far, it’s fair to say most Australians would remember her for her sole chart-bothering hit, 1997’s guitar-pop classic Sway.

Happily, the 36-year-old Runga told the Star Observer she doesn’t mind being forever linked to a song she wrote when barely out of her teens.

“Bloody Sway, I always have to play it!” she joked.

“Sway has had a life of its own, and that’s a testament to never being able to control or predict anything in this business. It’s not bad as a signature song. At least it’s not Macarena.”

Runga returns to the music scene this month with Belle, her first studio album since 2005’s Birds.

It’s been a long time between drinks for an artist who was never renowned for her speedy work rate — but Runga has a good excuse for her lax work rate this time around, having produced young son Joe between albums.

“In the music business it’s all about momentum, and as soon as your momentum dissipates you’ve committed career suicide,” she said cheerfully.

“But it’s never really bothered me too much. I’ve never felt like I could keep up with something when my heart’s not in it. I went away, had my son, and now I feel recharged and ready again.

“It was a long break for me. I became a mother and I didn’t really realise how long that would take. But I feel so proud of this record because it felt like it was a triumph to get back to my life again.”

An album of two distinct halves, Belle opens with the uncharacteristically jaunty Motownesque pop of Tiny Little Piece of My Heart and Hello Hello before settling into more familiar Bic spook-pop territory with otherworldly songs like Devil on Tambourine.

Given the long time away, it’s also a remarkably succinct album, clocking in at little more than half an hour.

Runga explained that with each new album, she’s “always trying to make a good pop record with no fat on it”.

She got all that and more with Belle. She also ended up with a boyfriend, the album’s producer Kody Nielson. The pair met in the studio and soon found their connection was more than just musical.

“We worked really well together and we’ve become quite a tight little unit,” Runga said.

“There were points where we disagreed, but that was good — I wouldn’t want to be in the studio with anyone who’s too agreeable or sychophantic.”

INFO: Belle (Sony) out now. Bic Runga east coast tour, May 1 – 13. www.bicrunga.com