Born in 1976, Briolette Kah Bic Runga is the third daughter of Maori soldier Joseph Runga and Chinese cabaret singer, Sophia, who met and fell in love in Malaysia during the Vietnam war.
Growing up in the 'underwhelming' Christchurch suburb of Hornby, the Runga family listened to The Carpenters, Shirley Bassey, Dusty Springfield, The Mamas & The Papas and The Beatles sung in Chinese. At age 4 Bic heard her mother play Diamonds Are Forever and found the experience frightening. "I remember I didn't really know why music would make you feel like that."
Birds: Special Edition debuted in the Official New Zealand Top 40 Albums on 17 July 2006. It has been in the Top 40 Albums for six weeks with a highest position of #23. There are eight albums by Bic Runga in the Top 40 Albums with two reaching Number One.