Six60
Today’s podcast is special for a multitude of reasons. The first is that it’s brought to you by We All Want Someone To Shout For, a music/film blog that’s run by my good friend Will Oliver (you might remember Will guesting on Real Exchanges). I’ve been a fan of his blog for many years now and it’s brilliant to know this episode will also live there.
The additional special element is that today’s guest is the frontman of the only band that safely played stadium concerts while most of us were locked in our homes. That band is Six60, who’ve arguably become the biggest band in their native New Zealand. You’re probably familiar with the beginning of this; as most countries extended their lockdowns, the New Zealand populace got to enjoy life in a normal fashion; largely due to how their government responded to the pandemic.
This allowed the already successful Six60 to ascend to the ranks of becoming a stadium rock band. This only grew throughout 2020 and came to a beautiful apex earlier this year, where the guys of Six60 headlined a historic show at New Zealand’s Eden Park Stadium, the largest stadium within the entire country.
But large shows aside, what makes these guys stand out is how their songs are affectionately authentic and never aim to chase trends. On today’s podcast, I chat with frontman Matiu Walters about what he’s learned from writing intimate songs during a mad time in his life, along with how it felt being at the center of these mammoth shows and why family rests at the center of what Six60 are all about.
If you’re listening in the UK and Europe, you’ll be able to catch Six60 live in a few week’s time. Their tour kicks off in Paris on November 18th and they’ll be in that part of the world up to December 4th when the tour ends with a massive show at Brixton Academy in London. You can find tour dates/ticket info here, don’t miss out!
After you hear the episode, be sure to check out Six60’s track Don’t Forget Your Roots on the official New Exchange Playlist. Also, follow Six60 on Spotify, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
