A prodigiously talented multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and producer who remains resistant to any kind of easy pigeonholing, Kody Nielson may well have concocted the purest distillation of his hyperactive musical brain yet, in the shape of Silicon. Created in the small hours when the energy is strong, Silicon sends out pulses of warped, genuinely soulful, retro-futuristic electronica that smudges the lines between human warmth and disembodied voices from the machine.

Since the release of her first single Drivein 1996 – a top ten hit when she was just twenty – Bic Runga has been awarded almost every musical honour in New Zealand, including the prestigious APRA Silver Scroll songwriting award. Bic has won the most Tuis (New Zealand Music Awards) by any individual, ever (twenty). She has won Best Female Vocalist four times and Best Producer three times. Bic’s debut album Drive was certified seven times platinum and featured the enormous hit, 'Sway'. The follow up Beautiful Collisionin 2002 was certified an incredible eleven-times platinum and featured the hits Get Some Sleep, Something Good and Listening For The Weather.

Beautiful Collision was followed by an album recorded live with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. This album included beautiful orchestral versions of all her hits and a recording of the classic Jacque Brel song Ne Me Quitte Pas, which was an early indicator of Bic's next move to relocate to Paris. Paris life resulted in the more cinematic Birdsalbum in 2005 which also won Album Of The Year and featured the hit Winning Arrow.

Her songs have featured in film soundtracks (American Pie), her records have been released around the world, and she has won loyal followings in Europe, Asia and North America.

In January 2006, The Queen made Runga a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Zealand New Year's Honours List.