Six60

Six60 is a New Zealand rock band formed in 2006. Their self-titled debut album was released on the 10th October 2011 on their own label Massive Entertainment. The album debuted at No.1 in the New Zealand charts and was certified Gold in its first week. 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 both were certified Platinum.

Six60 formed after meeting at a Kora concert in 2006. Three members flatted together as University of Otago students, spending countless hours in their makeshift recording studio at 660 Castle Street, in northern Dunedin. The original lineup of Matiu Walters, Ji Fraser, Eli Paewai and original bassist Hoani Matenga played gigs at various parties and open mic nights, performing mostly covers while developing original material. Marlon Gerbes soon joined the lineup after filling in on guitar for an absent Fraser and the band began experimenting with synths and DnB. They then released their first self titled EP in 2009. Soon after Matenga left and was replaced by Chris Mac. They have since performed consistently sold-out shows all over NZ and Australia.

They released their debut album in October 2011.

Members:
- Eli Paewai (drums) - Eli Paewai grew up on his grandfathers farm in Dannevirke. At age thirteen, after a couple of rudimentary lessons, he started playing the drums. Eli went to high school in Hawkes Bay, and played in bands along the way. Attending university in Dunedin, he joined Six60 after meeting Matiu through rugby. Eli still lives in Dunedin. His drumming heroes include Ringo Star, Dave Grohl and Tommy Lee. The quiet one in the group, Eli is a huge fan of Oasis, The Stones, The Beatles and The Libertines.
- Chris Mac (bass, synths) - Originally from Darwin, Australia, Chris Mac now lives in Dunedin, with his wife and young daughter. A longstanding punk rocker turned hip-hop, soul and dubstep convert, Chris handles bass and synth duties for Six60. He brings the high-energy vibe of punk along for the ride, interspersed with a focused approach drawn from time spent playing music professionally in Australia. Staunchly community oriented, but far from authoritarian, Chris is all about family and friends, good laughs, good vibes and good times.
- Ji Fraser (lead guitar) - Raised on Led Zeppelin, The Eagles and Jimi Hendrix, Ji Fraser grew up in Gisborne. A guitarist since childhood, he always wanted to be a professional musician, but when he headed down to Dunedin, sensibly also studied law. Once there, he met up with Matiu Walters, setting the Six60 story in motion. Now based in Auckland, Ji is blessed with an unconventional playing style. He can translate his lead guitar work between rock, soul, dubstep and beyond with dynamic ease.
- Marlon Gerbes (synths, samples) - Marlon Gerbes grew up in Napier, and unlike Matiu, Eli and Ji, attended university in Christchurch, where first got himself onto a synthesiser. A guitarist since the age of twelve, Marlon relocated to Dunedin after completing university, joining the boys in Six60. A long-time metal, hip-hop, reggae, dubstep and drum and bass fan, he lives in Auckland and divides his time between music and working as a product designer. For Marlon, Six60 is the realisation of a lifelong musical dream.
- Matiu Walters (vocals, guitar) - Born and raised in Auckland, Matiu Walters grew up in a household full of music and instruments. A singer and a guitarist, his musical references range through rock, soul, RnB, hip-hop, folk and beyond. Heading down to Dunedin to study design and music, making a career in music was always at the back of Matiu’s thoughts. As part of Six60, he’s been able to turn this once faint dream into a tangible reality. At present, Matiu is based in Auckland.