Six60 Explained

Six60
Background:	group_or_band
Origin:	Dunedin, New Zealand
Years Active:	2008–present
Label:	Epic Massive
Current Members:	Chris Mac (bass) Ji Fraser (lead guitar) Marlon Gerbes (synths, samples) Matiu Walters (vocals, guitar)
Past Members:	Hoani Matenga (bass)^[1] Eli Paewai (drums)^[2] ^[3]

Six60 is a New Zealand pop rock band formed in Dunedin, Otago in 2008. The band consists of Matiu Walters (lead vocals, guitar), Ji Fraser (lead guitar), Chris Mac (bass guitar), Marlon Gerbes (synthesiser), Hoani Matenga (bass guitar) and Eli Paewai (drums).

Their 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.^[4] 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.^[5] 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.^[6] 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.^[7]

In February 2024, founding member Eli Paewai left the band, citing his "personal journey with music is coming to an end".^{[8] [9]}

History

Six60 was formed in Dunedin; the founding members met while attending University of Otago. The band created their name from the street number of the house they lived at in Dunedin, 660 Castle Street.^[10] As Ji Fraser said, "That's where it all began. It was the beginning of everything. It was a place that meant so much to us."^[11] In July 2021 the band bought 660 Castle Street and created four $10,000 performing arts scholarships at the University of Otago.^[12]

Their local following developed from Dunedin to other student hubs around the country such as Auckland, Waikato, Christchurch and Wellington.

Six60's original EP, released in 2008, contained a track called "Someone to Be Around".^[13] This track was left off their debut album but remains one of their most popular songs.

Six60 have a quadruple platinum number-one debut album with triple platinum-selling single "Don't Forget Your Roots", two double platinum-selling singles "Only to Be" and "Rise Up", two platinum-selling singles "Forever" and "Special", and one gold-selling single "Lost".

In early March 2013 the band was featured on George FM Breakfast's 'Damn! I Wish I Was Your Cover' series covering Rudimental's "Feel the Love".

In 2014, their song "Run for It" was featured on the trailer of ITV drama series Prey, starring John Simm.^{[14] [15]}

Chris uses a MOOG Voyager / Ernie Ball Musicman Sting Ray Bass guitars. Matiu and Ji both play Fender Strats, Gibson Les Paul electric guitars, and Gibson and Maton acoustic guitars while Marlon uses an MS2000 / Muse VIP / Fender Strat. Eli plays KDrums drums. Matiu's younger brother Niko Walters debuted as a musician in 2019,^[16] and has performed as an opening act for Six60.^{[17] [18]}

Discography

Studio albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions		Certifications
		NZ ^[19]	AUS ^[20]
Six60	Released: 10 October 2011 Label: Massive Entertainment Format: CD, digital download	1	—	RMNZ: 12× Platinum^[21]
Six60	Released: 27 February 2015 Label: Massive Entertainment Format: CD, 2×LP, digital download	1	—	RMNZ: 9× Platinum^[22]
Six60	Released: 8 November 2019 Label: Epic, Massive Entertainment Format: CD, digital download, streaming	1	8	RMNZ: 7× Platinum^[23]
Castle St	Released: 7 October 2022 Label: Epic, Massive Entertainment Format: CD, digital download, streaming	1	47	RMNZ: Gold^[24]
"—" denotes an album that did not chart in that country.

Extended plays

Title	EP details	Peak chart positions	Certifications
		NZ
Six60	Released: 2008 Label: Self-released Format: CD, digital download, streaming	—
iTunes Session EP	Released: 20 December 2013 Label: Massive Entertainment Format: Digital download	15
Six60	Released: 17 November 2017 Label: Massive Format: Digital download	2	RMNZ: 6× Platinum^[25]

Singles

As lead artist

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Certifications	Album
		NZ
"Rise Up 2.0"	2010	1	RMNZ: 2× Platinum	Six60
"Don't Forget Your Roots"	2011	2	RMNZ: 10× Platinum^[26]
"Only to Be"		5	RMNZ: 6× Platinum^[27]
"Forever"	2012	11	RMNZ: 3× Platinum^[28]
"In the Clear" (featuring Paul Mac)		12
"Lost" (featuring APO)		20	RMNZ: Gold
"Forever (Movie Version)"	2013	—		Vaterfreuden OST
"Special"	2014	1	RMNZ: 3× Platinum^[29]	Six60 (2)
"So High"	2015	10	RMNZ: Platinum^[30]
"White Lines"		5	RMNZ: 2× Platinum^[31]
"Purple"		—	RMNZ: Platinum^[32]
"Stay Together"		—	RMNZ: Platinum
"Exhale"		—	RMNZ: Platinum
"Don't Give It Up"	2017	4	RMNZ: 5× Platinum^[33]	Six60 EP
"Rivers"		32	RMNZ: Platinum^[34]
"Closer"		14	RMNZ: 2× Platinum^[35]
"Rolling Stone"		20	RMNZ: Platinum^[36]
"Vibes"		9	RMNZ: 5× Platinum^[37]
"Up There"		37	RMNZ: Gold^[38]
"The Greatest"	2019	3	RMNZ: 4× Platinum^[39]	Six60 (3)
"Please Don't Go"		2	RMNZ: 3× Platinum^[40]
"Raining"		8	RMNZ: 4× Platinum^[41]
"Never Enough"		10	RMNZ: Platinum^[42]
"Long Gone"	2020	5	RMNZ: 3× Platinum^[43]
"Sundown"		6	RMNZ: 4× Platinum^[44]
"Fade Away"		9	RMNZ: Platinum^[45]	rowspan="3"
"All She Wrote"	2021	1	RMNZ: 3× Platinum^[46]
"Pepeha"		2	RMNZ: 2× Platinum^[47]
"Before You Leave"	2022	3	RMNZ: 2× Platinum^[48]	Castle St
"Never Been Tonight"		39	RMNZ: Gold^[49]
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart in that country.

As featured artist

Title	Year	Peak chart positions			Certifications	Album
		NZ	NZ Artist ^[50]	AUS ^[51]
"Catching Feelings"	2019	3	1	43	RMNZ: 7× Platinum^[52] ARIA: Platinum^[53]	Drax Project
"Always Beside You"	2022	—	11	—	RMNZ: Gold^[54]	Coterie

Other charted songs

Title	Year	Peak chart positions		Certifications	Album
		NZ	^[55]
"Someone to Be Around"	2008	39	12	RMNZ: 2× Platinum^[56]	Six60 (2008 EP)
"Lost"	2011	—	12		Six60
"Finest Wine"		—	5	RMNZ: 4× Platinum^[57]
"Home"	2013	—	9		iTunes Session
"Waterfalls"		—	6
"Mother's Eyes"	2015	—	—	RMNZ: Gold	Six60 (2)
"Kia Mau Ki Tō Ūkaipō / Don't Forget Your Roots"^[58]	2019	10	—	RMNZ: 3× Platinum^[59]	Waiata / Anthems
"Universe"		—	—		Six60 (3)
"Ghosts"		21	—	RMNZ: Platinum
"Tomorrow"		28	—
"Tahi"	2022	—	—		Castle St
"Hang On"		—	—
"Nobody Knows"		—	—
"Say It Now"		—	—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart in that country.

Six60: Till the Lights Go Out

Six60: Till the Lights Go Out is a 2020 documentary film, directed by Julia Parnell, highlighting the bands humble beginnings to reaching global success.

Awards and nominations

Awards	Year	Type	Song or album	Notes
New Zealand Music Awards	2011	Single of the Year	"Rise Up 2.0"
		Breakthrough Artist of the Year	"Rise Up 2.0"
		Peoples' Choice Award
New Zealand Music Awards	2012	Single of the Year	"Don't Forget Your Roots"
		Best Group	"Six60"
		Peoples' Choice Award
		Highest selling New Zealand Single	"Don't Forget Your Roots"
		Highest selling New Zealand Album	"Six60"
		Radio Airplay Record of the Year	"Don't Forget Your Roots"
		Album of the Year	"Six60"
		Best Electronica Album	"Six60"
New Zealand Music Awards	2013	Highest selling New Zealand Album	"Six60"
New Zealand Music Awards	2015	People's Choice Award
		Album of the Year	Six60
		Single of the Year	"White Lines"
		Best Group	"Six60"
		Best Pop Album	"Six60"
		Highest selling New Zealand Single	"Special"
		Highest selling New Zealand Single	"So High"
		Highest selling New Zealand Album	"Six60"
		Radio Airplay Record of the Year	"Special"
New Zealand Music Awards	2016	Highest selling New Zealand Single	"White Lines"
		Radio Airplay Record of the Year	"White Lines"
		Highest selling New Zealand Album	"Six60"
New Zealand Music Awards	2017	Highest selling New Zealand Single	"White Lines"
		Highest selling New Zealand Album	"Six60"

Notes and References

1. Web site: Rugby: Field Matenga's chosen stage. Steve. Hepburn. Otago Daily Times. 11 September 2010. 19 June 2015.
2. Web site: 5 February 2024 . Six60 founding member Eli Paewai to leave the band . 5 February 2024 . RNZ . en-nz.
3. Web site: 'So grateful' – SIX60 drummer Eli Paewai to leave band . 5 February 2024 . 1 News . en.
4. Web site: Weaser. Laura. Interview: Matiu Walters – SIX60. Rip It Up. 9 June 2014.
5. Web site: Six60 reign as most-streamed local artist on Spotify . Stuff . 4 December 2018 . en. 23 February 2019.
6. Web site: Hours before Six60 take to the stage for record-breaking concert . . 1170-0777 . 23 February 2019 . 23 February 2019.
7. Web site: Kerr-Lazenby. Mina. 24 April 2021. Six60 at Eden Park: 50,000 fans flock to Auckland stadium for inaugural concert. 25 April 2021. Stuff NZ. 1170-0777.
8. Web site: 5 February 2024 . Six60 founding member Eli Paewai to leave the band . 5 February 2024 . RNZ . en-nz.
9. Web site: 'So grateful' – SIX60 drummer Eli Paewai to leave band . 5 February 2024 . 1 News . en.
10. Web site: Bailey. Thomas. Six60. 9 June 2014.
11. Web site: Gallagher. Sarah. It was the beginning of everything. 20 February 2014. 6 February 2018.
12. Web site: 29 July 2021. Tomato sauce, broken glass and beer – inside Six60's $1.7m flat purchase. 29 July 2021. Stuff. en.
13. Web site: Six60 EP. 9 June 2014.
14. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Web site: Prey Full Trailer ITV . YouTube.
15. Web site: Run for It. Spotify. 7 February 2014.
16. Web site: Niko Walters: Escape To The Neighbours . Richard . Thorne . NZ Musician . 2020 . 17 April 2022.
17. News: For Niko Walters, the pressure doesn't change the passion . Max . Tetlow . . 8 December 2020 . 17 April 2022.
18. News: Niko Walters – Vicious Love . . 14 September 2021 . 8 April 2022.
19. Web site: Discography Six60. Recorded Music NZ. Hung Medien. 30 October 2021.
20. Web site: Discography Six60. australian-charts.com. 14 October 2022.
21. New Zealand . album . Six60 . Six60 (1) . 5619. 22 July 2023.
22. New Zealand . album . true . Six60 . Six60 (2) . 5652. 2 September 2023.
23. New Zealand . album . true . Six60 . Six60 (3) . 5676. 30 September 2023.
24. New Zealand . album . Six60 . Castle St . 5487. 15 January 2023.
25. New Zealand . album . true . Six60 . Six60 EP . 5325. 25 June 2022.
26. New Zealand . single . Six60 . Don't Forget Your Roots . 5742 . true. 20 January 2024.
27. New Zealand . single . Six60 . Only to Be . 5585 . true. 27 May 2023.
28. New Zealand . single . Six60 . Forever . 5224 . true. 30 October 2021.
29. New Zealand. single. Six60. Special. 4294. 21 November 2016.
30. New Zealand. single. Six60. So High. 4058. 5 June 2015.
31. New Zealand. Six60. White Lines. single. 4189. 8 January 2016.
32. New Zealand. single. 4148. 2 October 2015.
33. New Zealand. single. Six60. Don't Give It Up. 4466. 23 March 2018.
34. New Zealand . single . Six60 . Rivers . 4488. true. 12 April 2023.
35. New Zealand . single . Six60 . Closer . 4536. true. 12 April 2023.
36. New Zealand . single . Six60 . Rolling Stone . 4506. true. 12 April 2023.
37. New Zealand. single. Six60. Vibes. 4625. 26 April 2019.
38. Web site: Top 20 New Zealand Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 28 May 2018. 25 May 2018.
39. New Zealand. single. Six60. The Greatest. 4815. 7 March 2020.
40. New Zealand. single. Six60. Please Don't Go. 4803. 11 January 2020.
41. New Zealand. Six60. Raining. single. 5599. true. 24 June 2023.
42. New Zealand . single . Six60 . Never Enough . 4871. true . 29 February 2020.
43. New Zealand. Six60. Long Gone. single. 5002. true. 25 April 2023.
44. New Zealand. Six60. Sundown. single. 5561. true. 4 January 2024.
45. New Zealand. single. Six60. Fade Away. 5036. 21 March 2021.
46. New Zealand . single . Six60 . All She Wrote . 5463 . true. 10 December 2022.
47. New Zealand . single . Six60 . Pepeha . 5447. true. 19 November 2022.
48. New Zealand . single . Six60 . Before You Leave . 5770. true. 1 March 2024.
49. New Zealand . single . Six60 . Never Been Tonight . 5589. true. 3 June 2023.
50. Peak positions for Six60's singles on the NZ Artists singles chart:
    • For "Catching Feelings": Web site: NZ Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 14 September 2019. 14 September 2019.
    • For "Always Beside You": Web site: NZ Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 31 December 2022. 31 December 2022.
51. Web site: ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles. Australian Recording Industry Association. 2 December 2019. 30 November 2019.
52. New Zealand. Drax Project feat. Six60. Catching Feelings. single. 5561. true. 25 April 2023.
53. Web site: ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2020 Singles . ARIA. 18 July 2020.
54. New Zealand. Coterie featuring Six60. Always Beside You. single. 5624. true. 29 July 2023.
55. Web site: Top 20 New Zealand Single Chart – The Official New Zealand Music Chart. charts.org.nz . 23 December 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120301085522/http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/nzsingles . 1 March 2012. live.
    • "Someone to Be Around": Web site: Top 20 New Zealand Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 8 January 2022.
56. New Zealand . single . Six60 . Someone to Be Around . 5647 . true. 16 September 2023.
57. New Zealand. Six60. Finest Wine. single. 5565. true. 29 April 2023.
58. Web site: Waiata / Anthems by Various Artists on Apple Music . Apple Music NZ . 6 September 2019 . 8 September 2019.
59. New Zealand . single . Six60 . Kia Mau Ki Tō Ūkaipō / Don't Forget Your Roots . 5665 . true. 16 September 2023.