Six60

Six60 Biography

Six60 is a New Zealand pop-rock band formed in Dunedin, Otago, in 2008 comprising Matiu Walters (lead vocals, guitar), Ji Fraser (lead guitar), Chris Mac (bass guitar), Marlon Gerbes (synthesiser), Hoani Matenga (bass guitar) and Eli Paewai (drums). The band members bonded over a shared love of NZ music and a passion for making their own and formed after meeting at a Kora concert in 2006. Three members flatted together as Otago University students, spending countless hours in their "recording studio" (Eli Paewai's room) at 660 Castle St; hence the band name. Six60's debut EP, released in 2008, features a track called "Someone to Be Around" that was left off their debut album but continues to be one of their most popular songs. The band's self-titled debut album was released on 10 October 2011 on their own label Massive Entertainment. The album was produced and mixed by Tiki Taane and debuted at number one in the New Zealand charts and was certified gold within its first week of release. Their first two singles "Rise Up 2.0" and "Don't Forget Your Roots" reached number one and number two respectively on the RIANZ singles chart and were both certified double and triple platinum. In 2018 the band won five Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards and were the most streamed artist by New Zealanders on Spotify. On 23 February 2019, Six60 became the first New Zealand band to play a sold-out concert at the Western Springs Stadium, to a crowd of 50,000 fans. On 24 April 2021, Six60 played the first concert at Auckland's Eden Park Stadium, to a crowd of 50,000 fans. It was the closing of the Six60 Saturdays country-wide tour and the largest concert of 2021.