Six60 looking forward to Rotorua gig

There is no denying Six60 is one of the biggest acts on the Kiwi music scene and they're heading to Rotorua in less than two weeks. The Daily Post entertainment reporter Kristin Macfarlane chats to Six60 singer and guitarist Matiu Walters ahead of the March 9 gig about Rotorua, why they haven't performed here yet and what's next for the successful group.

 

Six60 are about to do their first Rotorua gig but they're hoping to add it to their regular touring list.

Six60 - consisting of band members Matiu Walters, Eli Paewai, Ji Fraser, Marlon Gerbes and Chris Mac - blends soul, rock, dubstep and drum and bass and will be performing in Rotorua at the Convention Centre on March 9. Tickets for the Rotorua gig are available through Ticketmaster.

The band have scooped two platinum singles, one double platinum single and a double platinum album that hasn't been out of the Top 10 since it debuted at No1 back in October.

For Walters, Six60's successes have been "hard to fathom".

"It's been crazy," he says. "We are just a bunch of dudes, a bunch of guys from Dunedin who have fun, who love what we do, who are passionate about it."

He describes their music as honest, which he believes is one of the reasons behind their success.

Walters - singer and guitarist - acknowledges it has taken some time to finally make it to Rotorua, especially after receiving numerous requests from people who live here. However, he says they haven't been here before now because it just hasn't worked out.

"We're really excited about finally getting down there," he said.

He wants Rotorua audiences to give them "no other option but to come back" so Rotorua can become a regular stop for them.

Over summer, Six60 performed a completely sold-out summer tour in which they played to more than 15,000 people in just seven shows and Walters says those gigs will have similarities to the Rotorua gig.

"Those shows were great."

Walters says the band likes to have fun and they'll do just that in Rotorua, give audience members the chance to hear songs they love while also giving them the chance to hear some new material.

"Hopefully, we're going to try some new things out ... a lot of energy and good times.

"We're in the process of working on new material."

"We like to involve the crowd as much as we can."

The Rotorua gig is part of a Six60 world tour. They will tour New Zealand between March 2 and April 14 before going to Australia, Britain - where they have already sold out three London shows - followed by Ireland and the United States.

Walters says their world tour venues were selected after asking their Facebook fans where they wanted Six60 to perform as well as places band members wanted to visit.

Once their world tour is over, Walters says they'll look at putting out their next album.

Although Walters says Six60 has a lot of support in New Zealand, they will consider being based overseas if that's where they need to be for their music.

"These are our roots and this is what we love."

Meanwhile, Walters has some messages for Rotorua musicians who are wanting to follow in Six60's footsteps and pursue a passion as a career - reach for the stars, be honest with your music and keep practising because "practice makes perfect".

"Believe in yourself, because a lot of people are going to give you advice on what they think is the right way to go.

"If people can feel it [your music] and relate, it will be great. I don't listen to music unless I feel it."

Matiu Walters' favourite songs on the Six60 album:

Lost. "I really love that song, it means a hell of a lot for me."

Rest of You. "It's about something that's really close to me."

Forever. You can create your own story around it.

He says he likes all of the songs on the album but says his favourite are ones that can't be pigeonholed and are broad enough for people to find their own meanings.