Six60's new EP shows their new soul-pop direction is starting to suit them.
Six60's new EP shows their new soul-pop direction is starting to suit them.
"Don't forget your roots, my friend," screams the chorus of Six60's most well-known song, Roots.
An argument could be made that the Dunedin band, now based in Auckland, have done exactly that on their latest EP, which swaps the reggae-infused hard rock of tried-and-true bangers Rise Up and Forever forpop-soul summer jams.
But it's an argument that quickly dissolves once you've heard Don't Give It Up, the opening track and, currently sitting at No. 4 in the charts, a certified summer stunner.
Like their 2014 smash Special, it's a single with staying power, one likely to soundtrack plenty of sun-drenched shenanigans over the next few months - and a guaranteed moment to remember at their upcoming summer tour dates.
So how does the rest of the EP, released track-by-track over the past six weeks, measure up? It's clear that time they spent with Pharrell in the studio is starting to show, with songs being stripped back to their bare essentials.
It's a style that feels like it's become more natural to them since their last album, with the casual soul of Rivers, the harmonies of Up There and the finger-snapping R&B of Vibes sounding simple and effortless in the best possible way.
"I've grown up since that phase," sings frontman Matiu Walters on Rolling Stone. He could be referencing the band's attitude towards their early bangers, but the song lands with such a gorgeous hook you'll be too busy humming along to think about it.
Six60 - Six60 EP Label: Massive Stars: Four Verdict: Kiwi group grow some new roots
