On 5 September 2025, I got the incredible chance to see Bic Runga’s concert rehearsal! This amazing opportunity was all organised by Play It Strange & Auckland Philharmonia; it all started on 25 August, when I suddenly received an email from Play It Strange.
It was about Bic Runga and an exclusive alumni invitation to a private backstage experience for her rehearsal on the 5 September with the Auckland Philharmonia, the day before her official concert on the 6th! The event would run from 7:00-9:30 PM, and only 15 spots were available. I quickly emailed them back, claiming a spot, and waited three long days in anticipation. On 28 August, I received the confirmation that I had gotten the last spot!
A week later, it was finally the day of the rehearsal.
I drove into the city with my dad, bringing him as my plus one, before heading to Aotea Square where we’d see Bic. All 15 of us alumni with their plus ones met up at BurgerFuel first and exchanged names. We were then given BurgerFuel cards for a free burger dinner at 5:45 PM (so thoughtful)! After dinner we walked to Aotea Square and found our seats at the middle level, where my dad and I claimed two front row seats. From our point of view, we could see the huge orchestra ready to perform. After a few minutes of waiting, Bic Runga walked out from the side, giving us a few waves and smiles from below! At approximately 7:30 PM, the lights dimmed down, when the rehearsal officially began. Bic started with her song “Beautiful Collision”, and it sounded amazing. Even though she mentioned her throat wasn’t perfect that day, her voice was absolutely incredible. The orchestra played beautifully too; seeing how everything came together was an unforgettable experience (There was even a huge disco ball that was lit in different colours).
Between songs, the conductor would stop certain sections to adjust or refine parts of the performance. It was so special to watch the process behind the music! During the rehearsal, Bic introduced two brand-new unreleased songs, which were just as beautiful. As the rehearsal came to an end, she performed her breakthrough hit “Sway”, which peaked at #7 in New Zealand and #10 in Australia, eventually becoming one of her most iconic and streamed songs.
My personal favourite of the night was “Listening to the Weather”, with its ear-catching harmonica melody that plays throughout the song. It has also been a song I’ve loved from her ever since I was young! The rehearsal surprisingly wrapped up at around 8:20 PM.
We were all amazed by Bic’s voice and the orchestra, but a little sad that the extra one hour had flown by so quickly. Just as we thought the night was over, one of the managers from below announced, “We have a visitor coming up!” We all got extremely ecstatic as Bic Runga appeared through the door, leading to our seating area. She came down to where we all sat, as she greeted us warmly, thanked us for coming, and kindly invited us to ask any questions. I managed to break through my own nervousness and put my hand up. I asked her where her songwriting inspiration comes from, and Bic smiled and said, “Just everything – like life, you know?” She explained that the best lyrics often come from the subconscious, rather than trying to just find a hit song. For her, the magic is in finding a good first line and a chorus that arrives almost naturally, while the rest of the song feels like filling in a crossword. She then ends her answer by saying “when you experience something throughout the day, you can turn it into lyrics by night.” After she answered my question, she happily signed my CD’s which I have bought along. She signed both and asked my name, writing it on my “Drive” album CD with a little heart. I felt so emotional and even cried a little, since Bic has been one of my favourite singers since I was five. Bic then answered everyone else’s questions with honesty and warmth, leaving us all inspired. The night ended with a heartfelt goodbye from Bic. I am so grateful to Play It Strange and Auckland Philharmonia for this unforgettable experience, and of course to Bic Runga, for letting us experience her rehearsal and generously giving us her time to make the night truly memorable and motivating.
