Stellar*
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Stellar* | |
|---|---|
| Origin | New Zealand |
| Genre(s) | Rock |
| Years active | 1994 – present |
| Label(s) | Sony BMG |
| Members | |
| Boh Runga Andrew Maclaren Chris Van de Geer Kurt Shanks |
|
Stellar* are a New Zealand based pop/rock band headed by vocalist Boh Runga, sister of acclaimed singer-songwriter Bic Runga. Currently in their career, they have attained four RIANZ top 10 singles (the highest being Every Girl at #3) and two #1 albums.[1]. The band's signature song is Violent, which at the 2000 New Zealand "Tui" music awards won the Single of the Year award, as well as winning Runga an award for best Songwriter. The band won seven awards at the Tuis, among them the Best Album award for their debut, Mix.[2] Currently, the band have just released their third studio album, Something Like Strangers in 2006.
Contents |
[edit] Formation
In 1992, musicians Boh Runga and Andrew Maclaren moved to Auckland from Christchurch. Eventually with other musicians, initially guitarist Joel Haines they formed stellar* in 1994. Originally a three piece they wrote their fist single Ride. This featured in a short film Headlong by Simon Raby. The band in its initial form didn't last. Later Runga and Maclaren came across bass player Kurt Shanks and reformed the band as a four piece.
In 1998 the band signed on with Sony BMG music NZ, later that year they released their first commercial single What You Do (Bastard). 1999 saw their first album release Mix, then the second-highest selling NZ album ever.[3] The album was produced by ex-Thompson Twins singer Tom Bailey.
Mix would go on to gain Stellar* numerous accolades at New Zealand's 2000 Tui awards. It was also released in Australia, and resulted in Stellar* being a tour support for Alanis Morissette (who they got along well with) and Garbage (who they did not get along with, owing to similarities between the two bands). An extended version of Mix was also released, which featured a CD-ROM of three of their music videos.
In 2001 a follow-up album was released, Magic Line, a far more pop-rock based album than their first. After the release of a few singles from it, the band took an extended break, which due to different band members' solo projects, took five years.
Finally, 2006 bore release of their third album Something Like Strangers.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
| Information |
|---|
| Mix |
Magic Line
|
| Something Like Strangers |
[edit] Singles
| Year | Single | Album | Chart position |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ | |||
| 1996 | "Happy Gun" | Non-album single | - |
| 1998 | "What You Do (Bastard)" | Mix | 17 |
| 1999 | "Part of Me" | Mix | 4 |
| "Violent" | Mix | 11 | |
| "Undone" | Mix | 13 | |
| 2000 | "Every Girl" | Mix | 3 |
| 2001 | "All It Takes" | Magic Line | 7 |
| 2002 | "Taken" | Magic Line | 6 |
| "Star" | Magic Line | 40 | |
| 2003 | "One More Day" | Magic Line | - |
| 2006 | "Whiplash" | Something Like Strangers | - |
| "For a While" (featuring Andy Lovegrove) | Something Like Strangers | - |
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Discography Stellar*. Retrieved on 2007-01-29.
- ^ New Zealand Music Awards, Winners 2000. Retrieved on 2007-01-29.
- ^ Double Trouble. Smithes, Grant (November 3, 2002). Retrieved on 2006-08-24.
