Stellar*

New Zealand quartet Stellar* is comprised of singer/songwriter and guitarist Boh Runga (sister of Bic), Chris van der Geer (guitar), Kurt Shanks (bass), and drummer Andrew Maclaren. First single "Happy Gun" appeared in 1996 on independent label Papa Pacifica. Signing to Sony, three singles -- "What You Do," "Part of Me," and "Violent" -- all charted inside the Top 20 before Tom Bailey (Thompson Twins) produced the debut album Mix, which was released to acclaim in August 1999 and has since achieved five times platinum status in New Zealand. Singles continued with "Undone" and Garbage-like "Every Girl" preceding the repackaged album (Runga swapping bright red hair for blonde). Stellar* then won several Tui's (New Zealand record industry awards) including Best Group and Best Album. Their single "All It Takes" matched previous success, reaching the Top Ten. A second Bailey-produced album, Magic Line, was released in late 2001.