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1- Hi Boh, how are you?
Very well, thank you for asking.
2- First of all, where do you come from & where’s home?
I am a New Zealander, my father was Maori and my mother is Malaysian Chinese.
3- Special questions: what are your favorite dishes and drinks?
I like spicy food, one of my favorites is a noodle dish called Char Kway Teow. Delicious!My beverage of choice alcoholic-wise is vodka and tonic. Otherwise, I like pineapple juice. And a lot of water.
4- Do you have time to go to the cinema or to read a book? any good recommendations?
I love going to the movies. I saw an intriguing film recently called The Headless Woman. The last book I read was an audio book, a collection of short stories by Isaac Asimov read by the author himself.
5- What are your musical influences and what do you like to hear actually?
I like to listen to rock radio. Classic rock, mainly. But musically, I’m influenced by traditional song structures and love songs that have seemed to permeate into what I do.
6- You were in a band before called Stellar in the 90s, do you miss the old times or is it now a complete different part of your life in your music career to sing solo? how do you feel?
I miss those boys. I’ve been part of a band environment since I was 16.Stellar was a massive part of my life. There’s comfort in a group and you share an ‘us and them’ mentality, camaraderie. But life is for exploring and that’s what I’d like to do with music.
7- We know your sister Bic Runga since many years now.
Do you think of making maybe one day a duet song with her or more?
We’d love to do that. We have yet to set aside some decent time to write with each other. But it would be a fantastic thing to do, for sure.
8- Music seemed to be always part of your family, when did you know that you wanted to bring your own part?
I think it was a given, with my parents being musical themselves. I just fell into bands because it was natural for me, I guess. Writing was always fun for myself and my sisters and we used to write ridiculous ditties record them on a tape deck then erase them. Some were a little lewd and we didn’t want mum and dad to hear them.
9- Talking about collaborations, I’ve listened to your album called “Right here” and I really love your work with Greg Laswell on the last song (can’t help myself to play it on repeat mode).
How did you both proceed to make it?
He was amazing!My producer Marshall Altman asked him if he’d come and sing with me and he was good enough to come straight off a tour, off a flight from New York to the studio and brave a session with a head cold. His voice is sexy. At one point after one of his takes where he sang perfectly in unison with my vocal he said, “it’s like I just kissed you..” I melted. Arrggghhh.
10- By the way, what’s the story about it? to my ears, the lyrics seemed to tell about a long distance relationship or a loss…Am I a bit right?
Yes, about missing someone but they have to be away from you. Sob.
11- Do you go sometimes to gigs to see other artists? what was the best you’ve been to?
Prince at Coachella last year! I am a major fan and was even lucky enough to write w his ex-guitarist Weldy Melvoin a few years back. Seeing Prince live was seriously exciting. Sheila E guested and sang Glamorous Life! I was in HEAVEN.
12- I really like the song “Evelyn”, the second single out of your album, and saw the music video for it. I can say that I really like your style, what you were wearing, black gloves, big classic car…very sexy! 
What is funny to shoot it and what’s the story for this one too?
I love muscle cars, we have a 1970 mustang. I’ve always wanted a mustang since I was small. A wonderful man who imports and exports classic cars was good enough to organize that particular car for the shoot- I was so obsessed with it. It was immaculate. Between takes, I’d quiz him. I thought the rock-a -billy- ish vibe look would be fun for the video although I couldn’t channel any decent dance moves. The song is about an obsession with a woman so I wanted a bit of androgeny.
13- I’ve noticed a jewel on your neck in this video and I was surprised that you’ve your own jewelery store!! I think it’s beautiful! How did you get this idea?
I love collecting jewelery and accessories so when I was asked if I wanted to design for The New Zealand Mint, I fair leapt at it. It’s another creative outlet and a fun one. I have 5 jewelery collections to date. I get really excited thinking up new designs, about what I’d like to wear.
14- Like many famous artists before, you’ll play at the Hotel Café at the end of the month, do you feel excited?
I’m always a mix of excited and apprehensive.
15- Like million people, you’re twittering too (funny word is it?). Do you think it’s important for artists to be connected with those social networks like Facebook, Twitter and so on. Don’t you think it’s maybe giving too much to listeners? what’s your point of view?
I’m very new at it. Only recently joined. I find it fascinating. I just recently left my guitar in the street and drove off and the person who found my guitar contacted me via Twitter. Crazy!
16- Other point of view that I really like to get from artists is about the actual music industry, do you think it’s better to be signed under majors or being independent?
I’ve been signed under a major and I’ve been independent. The difference is too hard to compile with a few words. There is beauty in control but there is also the networking and finance behind majors. The world is growing ever smaller between the two, though.
17- Well Boh, thanks you so much for your answers, what are your plans now? will you tour?
I have a tour back in New Zealand- an Acoustic tour through churches. Looking forward to it immensely.
18- Any chance to see you in France or in European festival soon?
Love to, haven’t been to Europe in a few years!
Ok, thanks again, hope to see you one day!
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More about Boh Runga? here it is!
BOH RUNGA’s solo album debut Right Here is released on July 14, unleashing the NZ pop chanteuse’s formidable collection of pop rock gems. Strongly reflective of her time spent transplanted to a life in Silver Lake, LA, the album tells tales of love, loss and life.The Runga sisters are second only to the Finns of Split Enz and Crowded House in New Zealand music royalty. After carving a hugely successful career fronting her chart-topping band Stellar, Boh now follows her sister Bic in going out under her own name. And while there are wide stylistic differences between the sound of the two Rungas, they share a talent for creating passionate songs.Recorded over six months in the Hollywood studio of producer Marshall Altman, Right Here has already been warmly received on its recent New Zealand release. The NZ Herald gave the album four stars (of 5), noting “its unashamed blockbuster urges and tune power make it all the more irresistible” and Real Groove called Right Here “an assured collection of streamlined tunes that’s guaranteed to surf the airwaves.”
“Songwriting’s a craft that I’ve worked at most of my life and I find that my songs now are influenced by my experiences and what I have observed of people and places on my travels,” says Boh.“Just hanging out listening to great pop music can be inspiring in itself. I saw Prince play at Coachella and I thought ‘this is it…great musicians, timeless pop hooks – that is what makes music exciting for me.”Right Here is packed with hook-drenched songs. From the vibrant pop of ‘Evelyn’ to the intimate title track, the cocktail noir of ‘Airwave’ and epic rock of ‘Dark Horse’, Boh’s sweet vocals are effortlessly wrapped in a range of musical moods throughout the eleven track journey.And alongside some of LA’s top players, Boh also roped in her pal Serj Tankian (System Of A Down) for a huge vocal performance alongside her on ‘Be Careful’.Boh grew up in New Zealand, the daughter of a Maori ex-serviceman and a Chinese mother who forsook her own singing career in Malaysia to join him in a place she barely knew existed. It wasn’t the easiest place to grow up but the Runga household, with Boh leading the way, was bursting to its seams with music.Boh left Christchurch for Auckland to form Stellar in the late 90’s. After signing with Sony Music, their 1999 debut album ‘Mix’ set New Zealand’s radio waves alight, and Stellar quickly became Sony’s biggest selling kiwi band. The acclaim wasn’t just multi-platinum sales based, with Stellar securing eight Tui Awards (NZ Grammys) for ‘Mix’ and its 2001 follow up ‘Magic Line’.After the release of ‘Magic Line’ and the subsequent touring of New Zealand, Australia and Europe, Boh headed to Los Angeles for the first time in 2003 for a period to hone her skills as a songwriter at the invitation of her LA-based music publishers, Chrysalis.“My publishers introduced me to working songwriters and it was an amazing experience being thrown into a situation where I would be in a room with a complete stranger with amazing musical credentials and hold my own. By the end of the day we would normally have a great pop song, or at least the basis of a great pop song.”I got to sit down with Wendy Melvoin (Prince and the Revolution) and record our song in Frank Sinatra’s old studio. I wrote with Kevin Savigar, Rod Stewart’s songwriter. And I penned ‘Whiplash’ with Shelly Peiken who wrote ‘Bitch’ for Meredith Brooks and also Genie in a Bottle’ for Christina Aguilera.”Powered by the afore-mentioned ‘Whiplash’ and the radio chart-topper ‘For A While’, third album ‘Something Like Strangers’ followed the previous two Stellar* albums straight into the charts in 2006 before Boh, now planning to live in LA and far away from her Stellar bandmates, made the decision that her next album, Right Here, would be one made under her own name.Boh returned to Los Angeles in 2007 to commence writing her first solo record, again connecting with LA’s songwriting community to co-write several of the songs featured on Right Here.!At the same time she was sketching designs for her second jewellery collection for the NZ Mint. In 2007, a fortuitous introduction to the gold bullion company had led Boh into designing and launching her first jewellery range called ‘Birdland’, based on her love of New Zealand’s native birds. Both ‘Birdland’ and ‘The Messenger Stories’, her second collection released in late 2008, have been a huge success in New Zealand, and Boh now plans to release the ranges in Australia and North America.“The last few years have been a great new adventure for me, I feel like I am thriving here in LA in a really creative space. Perhaps it’s nice to be where the sun is always shining!”
Armed with a guitar, a sketchbook, and her head full of melodies, Boh Runga is at a creative peak and is proud and excited to have released her debut solo album.
Official Website / Myspace / Facebook / Twitter links.
About the author : joined CTN-music.com on 2005, has music for passion, artists for friends and wishes to do more and more for them! Her biggest deal would be to create a giant folk/rock music festival in a few years and to own her label.
Based in France, she's a traveler and basically a woman :). Read more from this author
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George Aston
says:
Hey there!
My band just made our own song!!!
Have a look, we’ve learnt a lot from your blog!
xxx
Jessica Kuijer
says:
(37)niice
Cool song!
I’m glad you came to read us! see you soon!