Band Members: Boh Runga (vocals, guitar), Andrew Maclaren (drums, programming), Chris Van de Geer (guitar), Kurt Shanks (bass).

The first single, What You Do (Bastard), released in late ‘98, was immediately embraced by radio nationwide, reached the Top 15 in the national sales chart and became a huge live favorite last summer. "It’s direct, a bit confrontational and as catchy as hell," NZ Musician.

At the 1999 New Zealand Music Awards, after the release of What You Do, Boh won MOST PROMISING FEMALE VOCALIST and stellar* won MOST PROMISING NEW GROUP. The band sang their new single live at the awards.

Part Of Me, the second single, was released in March 99, and went on to become one of the biggest multi-format hits in the country this year. It peaked at #4 on the national singles chart and remained in the chart for more than two months. "Part Of Me, is perfectly structured, classically built and effortlessly executed. Runga is playful, snarling, touching and gifted with silkened vocal chords. Part of Me is pop at its most intelligent" Christchurch Star

After playing some scorching shows around the country over the summer of 1998/99, stellar* impressed an increasingly larger and adoring audience, squashing any suspicion that they were simply studio bound wizards.

The third single, Violent , an upbeat rockin’ pop song with a hook as big as Ben Hur, was released in New Zealand in July 1999. It went on to become an even bigger hit than Part Of Me reaching ‘A’ rotate on virtually every radio playlist nationwide and quickly became the live ‘anthem’ of 99.

In an unprecedented blaze of media exposure via TV, radio, and virtually every relevant print medium going, culminating in a dizzyingly rapid ascent to the top, they have joined that small bracket of New Zealand artists who can unequivocally cut it with the best the world has to offer.

stellar*s debut album MIX, was one of the most highly anticipated albums of the year and on September 22nd MIX peaked at #1 in the New Zealand albums chart, surpassing platinum sales in the week of release. MIX has now been in the New Zealand charts for more than 5 months an in that time has reached QUADRUPLE PLATINUM status, selling near on 60,000 copies in New Zealand. ‘Undone’, the beautiful fourth single was released in New Zealand prior to Christmas and again received an incredible amount of radio support (Top 5 in the Top 100 airplay chart), becoming the bands 4th consecutive hit single.

Since the release of MIX, stellar* have headlined their first national tour of New Zealand. In October they beat off all other young Australian and New Zealand bands to play the much coveted support slot on the entire New Zealand and Australian Alanis Morissette/Garbage tour.

On MIX, stellar* combine classic pop melodies with a lush, full-blooded electronic swooshfest. They are New Zealand’s own pop heroes.

What the critics say:
"stellar* are unarguably New Zealand’s brightest hope of achieving international stardom in the next millennium"
Rip It Up

"This is not only a startling debut but a great pop record"
NZ Herald

"This album has been worth the wait. It’s the classiest pop album ever produced in New Zealand, and album that shimmers on a global scale. This is pop at it’s most crafted"
Evening Standard

"stellar* weren’t in Wellington this week to chat about Kiwi pop history, more like, become a part of it. Cliches aside the long awaited album MIX will make them stars"
Evening Post

"Well this is a stunner! MIX is easily NZ album of the year. Hell it’s got ‘world class’ stamped all over it. For stellar* this moment is four years in the coming. MIX is intelligent, infectious, classy pop….such is the power of great pop. Own it. Fall in love with it"
Car Audio

"If you’re one of the few NZ’ers who haven’t brought this album yet, you’ll have to follow my instructions very carefully. Put down this copy of Pulp magazine and slap that fleshy bit at the back of your thigh as hard as you can for you must be punished. Once recovered, proceed rapidly to your nearest record store and set things straight. Demand from the attendant that they provide you with the most jam-packed with joyous pop rock hits album they have in store. If they should offer you Shania Twains ‘Come On Over’ resist the temptation to leave and say in a clear proud voice "No friend, give me stellar’s MIX" You’ve just made the best decision of your music buying life"
PULP Oct/Nov 99