Six60
New Zealand rock band
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 (drums, bass guitar), and Marlon Gerbes (guitar, bass guitar, synthesiser).
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.[5]
In 2018 the band won five Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards and were the most streamed artist by New Zealanders on Spotify.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8]
In February 2024, founding member Eli Paewai left the band, citing his "personal journey with music is coming to an end".[9][10]
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.[11] 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."[12] In July 2021 the band bought 660 Castle Street and created four $10,000 performing arts scholarships at the University of Otago.[13]
Their local following developed from Dunedin to other student hubs around the country such as Auckland, Waikato, Christchurch and Wellington.[14]
Six60's original EP, released in 2008, contained a track called "Someone to Be Around".[15] 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.[16][17]
Chris uses a MOOG Voyager / Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay 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.[citation needed] Matiu's younger brother Niko Walters debuted as a musician in 2019,[18] and has performed as an opening act for Six60.[19][20]
Sweet Home Aotearoa Festival
In October 2025, SIX60 announced the launch of a new country and roots music festival called Sweet Home Aotearoa. The event is scheduled to take place on January 3, 2026, at Matakana Country Park in New Zealand. Organized by the band itself, the festival aims to celebrate diverse musical influences and bring together artists from across genres.
The inaugural lineup includes performances by SIX60, Yelawolf, Tash Sultana, Tami Neilson, Hori Shaw, Brad Cox, South Summit, Rachael Fahim, TheWesternGuide, and Rosie Teese.[21]
The festival marks a significant expansion of SIX60's role in the New Zealand music scene, not only as performers but also as curators and promoters of live music experiences.
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ [5] |
AUS [22] | |||
| Six60 |
|
1 | — | |
| Six60 |
|
1 | — |
|
| Six60 | 1 | 8 |
| |
| Castle St |
|
1 | 47 |
|
| Right Here Right Now |
|
1 [27] | 27 [28] |
|
| "—" denotes an album that did not chart in that country. | ||||
Live albums
Compilation albums
Extended plays
| Title | EP details | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ [5] | |||
| Six60 |
|
— | |
| iTunes Session EP |
|
15 | |
| Six60 |
|
2 |
|
Singles
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ [5] | ||||
| "Rise Up 2.0" | 2010 | 1 |
|
Six60 |
| "Don't Forget Your Roots" | 2011 | 2 |
| |
| "Only to Be" | 5 |
| ||
| "Forever" | 2012 | 11 |
| |
| "In the Clear" (featuring Paul Mac) |
12 |
| ||
| "Forever (Movie Version)" | 2013 | — | Vaterfreuden OST | |
| "Special" | 2014 | 1 |
|
Six60 (2) |
| "So High" | 2015 | 10 |
| |
| "White Lines" | 5 |
| ||
| "Purple" | —[A] |
| ||
| "Stay Together" | — |
| ||
| "Exhale" | — |
| ||
| "Don't Give It Up" | 2017 | 4 |
|
Six60 EP |
| "Rivers" | 32 |
| ||
| "Closer" | 14 |
| ||
| "Rolling Stone" | 20 |
| ||
| "Vibes" | 9 |
| ||
| "Up There" | 37 |
| ||
| "The Greatest" | 2019 | 3 |
|
Six60 (3) |
| "Please Don't Go" | 2 |
| ||
| "Raining" | 8 |
| ||
| "Never Enough" | 10 |
| ||
| "Long Gone" | 2020 | 5 |
| |
| "Sundown" | 6 |
| ||
| "Fade Away" | 9 |
|
Non-album singles | |
| "All She Wrote" | 2021 | 1 |
| |
| "Pepeha" | 2 |
| ||
| "Before You Leave" | 2022 | 3 |
|
Castle St |
| "Never Been Tonight" | 39 |
| ||
| "Never Coming Home" (with Hilltop Hoods)[35] |
2025 | — | Fall from the Light | |
| "We Made It"[36] | 36 [37] |
Right Here Right Now | ||
| "Knocking at Your Door" | 2026 | —[B] | ||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart in that country. | ||||
As featured artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ [5] |
NZ Artist [39] |
AUS [40] | ||||
| "Catching Feelings" (Drax Project featuring Six60) |
2019 | 3 | 1 | 43 | Drax Project | |
| "Always Beside You" (Coterie featuring Six60) |
2022 | —[C] | 11 | — |
|
Coterie |
Other charted and certified songs
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ [5] |
NZ Art. [43] | ||||
| "Someone to Be Around" | 2008 | 39 | 12 |
|
Six60 (2008 EP) |
| "Beside You" | 2011 | — | — |
|
Six60 |
| "Finest Wine" | — | 5 |
| ||
| "Get" | — | — |
| ||
| "Green Bottles" | — | — |
| ||
| "Hard for Me" | — | — |
| ||
| "Lost" | — | 12 |
| ||
| "Rest Of You" | — | — |
| ||
| "Run For It" | — | — |
| ||
| "Windy Days" | — | — |
| ||
| "Home" | 2013 | — | 9 | iTunes Session | |
| "Waterfalls" | — | 6 | |||
| "Die For" | 2015 | — | — |
|
Six60 (2) |
| "Don't Go Changing" | — | — |
| ||
| "Fade To Grey" | — | — |
| ||
| "Find My Way" | — | — |
| ||
| "Last Ones Left (Outro)" | — | — |
| ||
| "Marks On The Wall" | — | — |
| ||
| "Mine" | — | — |
| ||
| "Mother's Eyes" | — | — |
| ||
| "Too Much" | — | — |
| ||
| "Kia Mau Ki Tō Ūkaipō / Don't Forget Your Roots"[44] | 2019 | 10 | — |
|
Waiata / Anthems |
| "Bitter End" | — | — |
|
Six60 (3) | |
| "Breathe" | — | — |
| ||
| "Ghosts" | 21 | — |
| ||
| "Tomorrow" | 28 | — |
| ||
| "Universe" | —[D] | — | |||
| "Tahi" | 2022 | —[E] | — | Castle St | |
| "Hang On" | —[F] | — | |||
| "Nobody Knows" | —[G] | — | |||
| "Say It Now" | —[H] | — | |||
| "Pepeha" (live acoustic) | 2024 | —[I] | — | The Grassroots Album | |
| "Forever" (live acoustic) | —[J] | — | |||
| "Someone to Be Around" (live acoustic) | —[K] | — | |||
| "Rivers" (live acoustic) | —[L] | — | |||
| "Endlessly" | 2026 | 32 [49] | — | Right Here Right Now | |
| "Knocking at Your Door" | —[M] | — | |||
| "Enjoy the View" | —[N] | — | |||
| "—" 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.[14]
Awards and nominations
| Awards | Year | Type | Song or album | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand Music Awards | 2011 | Single of the Year | "Rise Up 2.0" | Nominated |
| Breakthrough Artist of the Year | Nominated | |||
| Peoples' Choice Award | Nominated | |||
| New Zealand Music Awards | 2012 | Single of the Year | "Don't Forget Your Roots" | Won |
| Best Group | Won | |||
| Peoples' Choice Award | Won | |||
| Highest selling New Zealand Single | "Don't Forget Your Roots" | Won | ||
| Highest selling New Zealand Album | Six60 | Won | ||
| Radio Airplay Record of the Year | "Don't Forget Your Roots" | Won | ||
| Album of the Year | Six60 | Nominated | ||
| Best Electronica Album | Six60 | Nominated | ||
| New Zealand Music Awards | 2013 | Highest selling New Zealand Album | "Six60" | Nominated |
| New Zealand Music Awards | 2015 | People's Choice Award | Won | |
| Album of the Year | Six60 | Nominated | ||
| Single of the Year | "White Lines" | Nominated | ||
| Best Group | Nominated | |||
| Best Pop Album | Six60 | Nominated | ||
| Highest selling New Zealand Single | "Special" | Nominated | ||
| Highest selling New Zealand Single | "So High" | Nominated | ||
| Highest selling New Zealand Album | Six60 | Nominated | ||
| Radio Airplay Record of the Year | "Special" | Nominated | ||
| New Zealand Music Awards | 2016 | Highest selling New Zealand Single | "White Lines" | Won |
| Radio Airplay Record of the Year | "White Lines" | Won | ||
| Highest selling New Zealand Album | Six60 | Nominated | ||
| New Zealand Music Awards | 2017 | Highest selling New Zealand Single | "White Lines" | Nominated |
| Highest selling New Zealand Album | Six60 | Nominated | ||
| New Zealand Music Awards | 2018 | People's Choice Award | Won | |
| Album of the Year | Six60 | Nominated | ||
| Single of the Year | "Don't Give Up" | Nominated | ||
| Best Group | Six60 | Nominated | ||
| Best Pop Artist | Nominated | |||
| Highest Selling NZ Album | Six60 | Won | ||
| Highest Selling NZ Single | "Don't Give Up | Won | ||
| Radio Airplay | Won | |||
| New Zealand Music Awards | 2019 | People's Choice | Won | |
| Single of the Year | "The Greatest" | Nominated | ||
| Highest Selling Artist | Won | |||
| Radio Airplay | Won | |||
| Aotearoa Music Awards | 2020 | Album of the Year | Six60 | Nominated |
| Single of the Year | "In the Air | Nominated | ||
| Best Group | Nominated | |||
| Mana Reo | "Kia Mau Ki To Ukaipo" | Nominated | ||
| Best Pop Artist | Nominated | |||
| Highest Selling Artist | Won | |||
| Aotearoa Music Awards | 2021 | Single of the Year | "All She Wrote" | Nominated |
| Highest Selling Artist | Won | |||
| Radio Airplay | Won | |||
| Aotearoa Music Awards | 2022 | Highest Selling Artist | Won | |
| Radio Airplay | "Someone to be Around" | Won | ||
| Aotearoa Music Awards | 2024 | Highest Selling Artist | Won |
Notes
- "Always Beside You" did not enter the Official Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 7 on the Hot 40 Singles Chart.[42]
- "Universe" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 12 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[45]
