December 17, 2025 • 11 mins
It’s not a Kiwi summer without Six60, and the county’s highest selling live band is rolling on.
They’ve dropped their latest single, ‘We Made It’, coming in the wake of their bestselling Australian performance at the Sydney Opera House.
They’ll also have the honour of being the first live act to perform at the new One NZ Stadium in Christchurch and are curating a new country and roots music festival, taking place this summer in Matakana.
Lead singer Matiu Walters told Heather du Plessis-Allan it’s just a one-day festival at the moment, but they have plans to grow.
“It’s definitely a tough time for the arts, music, and for everyone really, to be fair,” he said.
“We didn’t, we never want to kind of just, to like, rest on our laurels.”
Over the years they’ve been performing, Six60 has smashed records, being labelled as the country’s first-ever Chart Icon at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards, and Walters says their drive stems from their desire to do “cool stuff”.
“Our goal was, was always just to write and perform music, and my purpose is to sing and play guitar, and all these things that kind of happened around us,” he told du Plessis-Allan.
“We’re aspirational dudes.”
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now it is not a key we some of without
six sixty is it? The highest selling live band in
New Zealand music history is rolling on. They've dropped their
latest single, it's called We Made It and this comes
just after their best selling performance in Australia at the
Sydney Opera House and they'll have the honor, of course
of being the first live act to perform at our
new stadium in christ Church. And the lead singer and
guitarist Matchi Walters is with me right now.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
How much you good morning? Jeez?
Speaker 1 (00:22):
You guys are busy. Do you ever take a break?
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Doesn't seem like it at the moment. Yeah, but I'm
hoping for one of a Christmas.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Yeah yeah, yeah, you probably deserve it. How's the prep going,
by the way, for the new festival that you're running,
the Country Music Festival.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
IM's coming along? Like that's a surprised you said. I
was like, actually, it's on January third. That's coming around
really quick.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
So you're not going to have that longer break.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Not really, but I think, I mean, we've been doing
this long enough that we're kind of confident we can
kind of roll in and pull anything together. But now
it's just going to be a good show, I think.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Yeah, it's just a one day festival, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
One day at the moment, you know, we've got plans
to grow.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
I've spoken to you about it on here because you
are on Dives when you guys first announced it, and
since then, of course you've had a couple of other
festivals fall over, like Explore. Yeah, so it makes it
more incredible that you guys are doing this.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Yeah. I mean it's it's definitely a tough time for
the arts music for everyone really, to be fair, but
I don't know, we didn't We're never wanted to kind
of just to take kind of rest in our laurels.
That's like some of us out there are still trying
to do cool stuff. So I don't mind taking the risk.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Has Mike costing Board his tickets for the show.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
I don't know. But last time we spoke, you know,
you asked if I put it on just for him
because he lives at I hope he comes thead. He
doesn't have to travel far and he loves country music.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
So if you make it loud enough and might be
able to hear it from.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
His rematter's name when we're on stage.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
He would love it. Hey, how did you get involved
with the christ Stadium opening?
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Well, obviously it's been on our radar for a while.
We knew that that Christ Shit has been working on
this for a long time, and when we approach with
the opportunity to open it, obviously we jump jumped at it.
We have a cool history with christ Church. It's actually
obviously we're started into needed, but christ Church is really
where we had our first kind of professional gig. We're
kind of booked for the first time. Yeah, and we
(02:06):
continue to tour through there, all through the earthquake recovery.
So look, it just kind of happened the opportunity to
come up naturally, and we're honored really to be able
to do that. We understand how long Christ has been
waiting for us and how much it deserve.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Its So, I mean when it was announced, it seemed
like such an obvious choice that it would be you guys,
because you are the ones who are doing the first
of so many things at the moment. Do you ever
stop and think about that?
Speaker 2 (02:31):
I sure we do a little more often. I mean
over there, I think it's a lot of us are
always looking at the horizon, you know, but I think
we're better. We're getting better at doing that.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
Because first to do the Eden Park, ye, first to
do the christ Church concert. So many records, so many records.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Yes, I'm so, And I don't need albums.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
By that, I mean like you're smashing records.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
What motivates you? If you've done all of these things
that you've done more than any other band in the
country's history already, what makes you keep going?
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Honestly, we just want to do cool stuff. And our
goal is was always just to write and perform music,
and my purpose is to sing and play guitar. Yeah,
and all these things has kind of happened around us,
and we've tried to just keep it simple. And the
funny how it kind of works that way. I mean,
(03:21):
we're aspirational dudes, and we try and you know, it's
like my dad said to me when I had the
big sit down way back that I tried to tell
them I was going to be a musician instead of
something else. He said, well, as long as you don't,
your goal isn't to play the pub around the corner,
because if that's the goal, then you're only ever going
to play the pub around the corner, and I was like, okay,
so how about a stadium?
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Yeah, what was your goal?
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Then?
Speaker 1 (03:41):
What did you readjust to well.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Look, we were and I even wanted to be the
biggest band in the world. Yeah, and the biggest bands
in the world playing stadiums, and they, you know, put
out big records, and that's always kind of been you.
We've tried to keep it pure and honest, but just
tried to, you know, do the biggest, boldest, brashest, most confident.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
I was listening to shehad on the radio the other
day and I was thinking about their attempt to crack
into the US market and how it didn't work in
the end, and I and then I thought about you guys, obviously,
because you are the next opportunity to do it. Would
you like to do that?
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Of course?
Speaker 1 (04:14):
So how do you do it?
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Well, that's it's kind of out of my control, to
be honest. If I can just write the best songs, yeah,
is it as given?
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Because you know much that sometimes the stuff that hits
the top of the as they call the head parade,
is not always the best song.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
No, And look, I guess I know now that you know,
timing is important but means, but that the right song
at the right time. Also, I look, the right look
is Also I can't control any of that stuff, so
I'm not It's just no use kind of losing sleep.
I believe it's going to happen. I believe it's just
a matter of time. If it happens when I'm sixty,
then it still happens, you know, So that right now
(04:51):
I'm just trying to write mean as songs and do
cool stuff.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
Yeah, why not?
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Hey were you at the Metallica concert.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
I wasn't, but some of the boys were. And then
I was like, in an I think it was at
the airport in LA and my phone just started blowing
up and someone's like, Metallic is butchering your.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Song mate, it was so bad. Did you have a
look at it?
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Yeah, I watched it.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Oh it was.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
I heard like, oh my god, they're playing dope, cute roots.
This is pretty buzzy. And then listen again. I was like, oh, yeah,
that's it's not great, but.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
Crazy because that I was because I knew that. I
knew that your mate Chris Mack would be around somewhere
because I often see him when I'm at concerts at
Eden Park and I and I did wonder how you
guys would feel about one of the biggest bands in
the world learning your jam.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Oh amazing. I couldn't, honestly couldn't believe it. And I
don't know a lot of really cool things are happening
at the moment. We just finished this album and then
this thing happens, and then we played the opera House
and the stadium happens. It's just a really cool season
in our lives at the moment, and just real exciting
stuff going now.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Listen, and one of your bandmates dropped out recently, how
does it like without him?
Speaker 2 (06:04):
It was honestly quite tough because he was a dear
friend and we started all this together. But he left amicable.
Were still really good friends and he was involved. He
like came to the Music Awards with us, and we
still hang out a lot. He's a rugby coach now
actually coaching the Auckland part of the Auckland NBC coaching
stuff and wanting to be an All Black coach, so
(06:25):
we're going to do everything we can to make sure
he gets that job.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Geez, you guys really are aspiration, aren't you, But also
very talented at a whole bunch of stuff. Sure has
he got fomo though they've been covered by.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Quite often when we're doing cool stuff, well like seeing
it to him that you could be doing this picking
up rugby balls and he but he's but we're still
really tight and but but antiquity it was. It was
actually pretty tough because the family dynamic changed and we
we are we are very much a family, and so
it took a while for us to kind of recalibrate.
And now now I think we're just stronger than ever.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
So so have you replace them with a permanent member
or is it.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Just no like session musicians?
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Yeaheah, Okay, yeah, fair enough, I can understand that. Now,
tell me about the single. What's it about?
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Well, like, I hope people can listen to it and
kind of take their own interpretation, but basically on what
we're talking about before that, you know, we people often
are always looking at the horizon and don't get a
chance to kind of stop and and be grateful for
how far they've come. Yeah, and that's really that's really
the crux of the song. But you know, it could
be like we made it to the end of twenty
(07:30):
twenty five we're gonna have a big you know, we
made it to the weekend, you know, stuff like that.
But really it's it's about it's about a bit of
self love and gratitude and all that kind of stuff, which.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
You're getting weird about it in the in the typical
key we way of just being so uncomfortable with your
own success. I can see it happening right now anyway. Yeah, no,
don't be humble. You own it. You own it as
much you Walters of six sixty, who's going to play
us their new single, We made it as much you
take it away.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
I can tell by the look in your eyes at
the stone's coming back again, and I can hear in
the sound of your voice that you're starting to crack.
And after all of this time, I'd be alive, said
that I knew how to do it, just riding, because
the truth is, I lose it sometimes and I need
(08:21):
to choose. And then to remind me that high she'll
say good bye to all the class.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
In my mind.
Speaker 4 (08:35):
Oh, I know it's been a bumpy road. Keep thinking
that somebody do take a little ground.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
It's a meaning.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
If we made it here, then we made had no better.
All of my people here. We never took the time
to celebrate head. But if we made it here, then
we mean yeah, oh yeah. Do you remember the days
(09:13):
we would say the we're gonna make it out? Well,
how crazy it would it be if they could see
us now because we used to dream so damn big
to be in a place it.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Looks just like this.
Speaker 4 (09:29):
Open your eyes or you're just smart miss everything that
we always wish for. Think it's time.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
To look around.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
To realize. Oh, I know it's been a bumpy keep
thinking that's so fodyo take a look around. It's a mean.
If we made it here, then we me yeah, no,
bed up, please, all of happy people here with me.
(10:07):
We never took the time to celebrate ya. But if
we made it here, then we made.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Oh yeah, take your ground, it's me said. But if
we made it here, then we made yeah. Oh if
you gotta drink batterieson because if we made it here,
(10:35):
then we.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Made very nice match you. Thank you so much for that,
good luck with everything. Thanks busy year at the end
of the year, like busy time at the end of
the year, and best of lack of that country music
festival sire it Yeah Matthew Watter's of six sixty If
we made it. For more from the mic Asking Breakfast,
listen live to news talks.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
It'd be from six a m.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Weekdays, or follow the podcast on I Heartbready out
Now it is not a key we some of without
six sixty is it? The highest selling live band in
New Zealand music history is rolling on. They've dropped their
latest single, it's called We Made It and this comes
just after their best selling performance in Australia at the
Sydney Opera House and they'll have the honor, of course
of being the first live act to perform at our
new stadium in christ Church. And the lead singer and
guitarist Matchi Walters is with me right now.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
How much you good morning? Jeez?
Speaker 1 (00:22):
You guys are busy. Do you ever take a break?
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Doesn't seem like it at the moment. Yeah, but I'm
hoping for one of a Christmas.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Yeah yeah, yeah, you probably deserve it. How's the prep going,
by the way, for the new festival that you're running,
the Country Music Festival.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
IM's coming along? Like that's a surprised you said. I
was like, actually, it's on January third. That's coming around
really quick.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
So you're not going to have that longer break.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Not really, but I think, I mean, we've been doing
this long enough that we're kind of confident we can
kind of roll in and pull anything together. But now
it's just going to be a good show, I think.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Yeah, it's just a one day festival, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
One day at the moment, you know, we've got plans
to grow.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
I've spoken to you about it on here because you
are on Dives when you guys first announced it, and
since then, of course you've had a couple of other
festivals fall over, like Explore. Yeah, so it makes it
more incredible that you guys are doing this.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Yeah. I mean it's it's definitely a tough time for
the arts music for everyone really, to be fair, but
I don't know, we didn't We're never wanted to kind
of just to take kind of rest in our laurels.
That's like some of us out there are still trying
to do cool stuff. So I don't mind taking the risk.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Has Mike costing Board his tickets for the show.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
I don't know. But last time we spoke, you know,
you asked if I put it on just for him
because he lives at I hope he comes thead. He
doesn't have to travel far and he loves country music.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
So if you make it loud enough and might be
able to hear it from.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
His rematter's name when we're on stage.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
He would love it. Hey, how did you get involved
with the christ Stadium opening?
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Well, obviously it's been on our radar for a while.
We knew that that Christ Shit has been working on
this for a long time, and when we approach with
the opportunity to open it, obviously we jump jumped at it.
We have a cool history with christ Church. It's actually
obviously we're started into needed, but christ Church is really
where we had our first kind of professional gig. We're
kind of booked for the first time. Yeah, and we
(02:06):
continue to tour through there, all through the earthquake recovery.
So look, it just kind of happened the opportunity to
come up naturally, and we're honored really to be able
to do that. We understand how long Christ has been
waiting for us and how much it deserve.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Its So, I mean when it was announced, it seemed
like such an obvious choice that it would be you guys,
because you are the ones who are doing the first
of so many things at the moment. Do you ever
stop and think about that?
Speaker 2 (02:31):
I sure we do a little more often. I mean
over there, I think it's a lot of us are
always looking at the horizon, you know, but I think
we're better. We're getting better at doing that.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
Because first to do the Eden Park, ye, first to
do the christ Church concert. So many records, so many records.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Yes, I'm so, And I don't need albums.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
By that, I mean like you're smashing records.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
What motivates you? If you've done all of these things
that you've done more than any other band in the
country's history already, what makes you keep going?
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Honestly, we just want to do cool stuff. And our
goal is was always just to write and perform music,
and my purpose is to sing and play guitar. Yeah,
and all these things has kind of happened around us,
and we've tried to just keep it simple. And the
funny how it kind of works that way. I mean,
(03:21):
we're aspirational dudes, and we try and you know, it's
like my dad said to me when I had the
big sit down way back that I tried to tell
them I was going to be a musician instead of
something else. He said, well, as long as you don't,
your goal isn't to play the pub around the corner,
because if that's the goal, then you're only ever going
to play the pub around the corner, and I was like, okay,
so how about a stadium?
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Yeah, what was your goal?
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Then?
Speaker 1 (03:41):
What did you readjust to well.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Look, we were and I even wanted to be the
biggest band in the world. Yeah, and the biggest bands
in the world playing stadiums, and they, you know, put
out big records, and that's always kind of been you.
We've tried to keep it pure and honest, but just
tried to, you know, do the biggest, boldest, brashest, most confident.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
I was listening to shehad on the radio the other
day and I was thinking about their attempt to crack
into the US market and how it didn't work in
the end, and I and then I thought about you guys, obviously,
because you are the next opportunity to do it. Would
you like to do that?
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Of course?
Speaker 1 (04:14):
So how do you do it?
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Well, that's it's kind of out of my control, to
be honest. If I can just write the best songs, yeah,
is it as given?
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Because you know much that sometimes the stuff that hits
the top of the as they call the head parade,
is not always the best song.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
No, And look, I guess I know now that you know,
timing is important but means, but that the right song
at the right time. Also, I look, the right look
is Also I can't control any of that stuff, so
I'm not It's just no use kind of losing sleep.
I believe it's going to happen. I believe it's just
a matter of time. If it happens when I'm sixty,
then it still happens, you know, So that right now
(04:51):
I'm just trying to write mean as songs and do
cool stuff.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
Yeah, why not?
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Hey were you at the Metallica concert.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
I wasn't, but some of the boys were. And then
I was like, in an I think it was at
the airport in LA and my phone just started blowing
up and someone's like, Metallic is butchering your.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Song mate, it was so bad. Did you have a
look at it?
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Yeah, I watched it.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Oh it was.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
I heard like, oh my god, they're playing dope, cute roots.
This is pretty buzzy. And then listen again. I was like, oh, yeah,
that's it's not great, but.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
Crazy because that I was because I knew that. I
knew that your mate Chris Mack would be around somewhere
because I often see him when I'm at concerts at
Eden Park and I and I did wonder how you
guys would feel about one of the biggest bands in
the world learning your jam.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Oh amazing. I couldn't, honestly couldn't believe it. And I
don't know a lot of really cool things are happening
at the moment. We just finished this album and then
this thing happens, and then we played the opera House
and the stadium happens. It's just a really cool season
in our lives at the moment, and just real exciting
stuff going now.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Listen, and one of your bandmates dropped out recently, how
does it like without him?
Speaker 2 (06:04):
It was honestly quite tough because he was a dear
friend and we started all this together. But he left amicable.
Were still really good friends and he was involved. He
like came to the Music Awards with us, and we
still hang out a lot. He's a rugby coach now
actually coaching the Auckland part of the Auckland NBC coaching
stuff and wanting to be an All Black coach, so
(06:25):
we're going to do everything we can to make sure
he gets that job.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Geez, you guys really are aspiration, aren't you, But also
very talented at a whole bunch of stuff. Sure has
he got fomo though they've been covered by.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Quite often when we're doing cool stuff, well like seeing
it to him that you could be doing this picking
up rugby balls and he but he's but we're still
really tight and but but antiquity it was. It was
actually pretty tough because the family dynamic changed and we
we are we are very much a family, and so
it took a while for us to kind of recalibrate.
And now now I think we're just stronger than ever.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
So so have you replace them with a permanent member
or is it.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Just no like session musicians?
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Yeaheah, Okay, yeah, fair enough, I can understand that. Now,
tell me about the single. What's it about?
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Well, like, I hope people can listen to it and
kind of take their own interpretation, but basically on what
we're talking about before that, you know, we people often
are always looking at the horizon and don't get a
chance to kind of stop and and be grateful for
how far they've come. Yeah, and that's really that's really
the crux of the song. But you know, it could
be like we made it to the end of twenty
(07:30):
twenty five we're gonna have a big you know, we
made it to the weekend, you know, stuff like that.
But really it's it's about it's about a bit of
self love and gratitude and all that kind of stuff, which.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
You're getting weird about it in the in the typical
key we way of just being so uncomfortable with your
own success. I can see it happening right now anyway. Yeah, no,
don't be humble. You own it. You own it as
much you Walters of six sixty, who's going to play
us their new single, We made it as much you
take it away.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
I can tell by the look in your eyes at
the stone's coming back again, and I can hear in
the sound of your voice that you're starting to crack.
And after all of this time, I'd be alive, said
that I knew how to do it, just riding, because
the truth is, I lose it sometimes and I need
(08:21):
to choose. And then to remind me that high she'll
say good bye to all the class.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
In my mind.
Speaker 4 (08:35):
Oh, I know it's been a bumpy road. Keep thinking
that somebody do take a little ground.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
It's a meaning.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
If we made it here, then we made had no better.
All of my people here. We never took the time
to celebrate head. But if we made it here, then
we mean yeah, oh yeah. Do you remember the days
(09:13):
we would say the we're gonna make it out? Well,
how crazy it would it be if they could see
us now because we used to dream so damn big
to be in a place it.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Looks just like this.
Speaker 4 (09:29):
Open your eyes or you're just smart miss everything that
we always wish for. Think it's time.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
To look around.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
To realize. Oh, I know it's been a bumpy keep
thinking that's so fodyo take a look around. It's a mean.
If we made it here, then we me yeah, no,
bed up, please, all of happy people here with me.
(10:07):
We never took the time to celebrate ya. But if
we made it here, then we made.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Oh yeah, take your ground, it's me said. But if
we made it here, then we made yeah. Oh if
you gotta drink batterieson because if we made it here,
(10:35):
then we.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Made very nice match you. Thank you so much for that,
good luck with everything. Thanks busy year at the end
of the year, like busy time at the end of
the year, and best of lack of that country music
festival sire it Yeah Matthew Watter's of six sixty If
we made it. For more from the mic Asking Breakfast,
listen live to news talks.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
It'd be from six a m.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Weekdays, or follow the podcast on I Heartbready out
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!