Sundown (Six60 song)

"Sundown"
Single by Six60
from the album Six60
Released	4 August 2020 (2020-08-04)
Genre	Pop
Length	2:57
Label	Epic, Massive
Songwriter(s)	Malay Marlon Gerbes Matiu Walters Paul Phamous
Producer(s)	Malay
Six60 singles chronology
"Long Gone" (2020) "Sundown" (2020) "Fade Away" (2020)
Music video
"Sundown" on YouTube

"Sundown" is a song by New Zealand band Six60, released as the final single from their third album Six60 in August 2020.

Background and composition

The song's instruments are primarily samples of taonga pūoro (traditional Māori instruments).[1] The samples were taken from an album by Hinewehi Mohi, which the song's producer Malay used as a basis for the track. Six60's lead singer Matiu Walters felt the song was one of his favourite tracks from the band's third album, describing it as "sound[ing] exactly like where we are right now."[2]

Release and promotion

The song was released as a single in the lead-up to their documentary film Six60: Till the Lights Go Out (2020).[3][4] A music video was produced for the song, and released on 30 October.[5] The video was directed by Connor Pritchard, who was given full creative control by the band, and shot over three days.[6] At the 2021 Vision Feast Awards, the video won the Best Music Video award, and Pritchard was awarded the Visionary Director and Visionary Editing awards due to his work on the clip.[7]

During the band's 2021 tour, musician and choreographer Pere Wihongi was employed to create a kapa haka routine for "Sundown", which was performed by a different regional kapa haka group at each concert.[8]

Critical reception

Alex Behan of Stuff described the song as "dreamy and aspirational".[2]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[9]

• Matt Chamberlain – drums
• Ji Fraser – guitar
• Chris Galland – mixing engineer
• Marlon Gerbes – guitar, keyboards, songwriting
• Chris Mac – bass guitar
• Malay – engineer, production, songwriting
• Manny Marroquin – mixer
• Eli Paewai – drums
• Paul Phamous – songwriting
• Six60 – performer
• Matiu Walters – songwriting, vocals

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2020–2021) Peak position New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[10] 6

Year-end charts Chart (2021) Position New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11] 21

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Sundown"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[12]	4× Platinum	120,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Reardon, Morgan (20 November 2020). "Six60 On Surviving Lockdown And Going Deep In Their New Documentary". The Urban List. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
2. Behan, Alex (3 November 2019). "Six60: With a summer tour and new album, they're living their meanest lives". Stuff. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
3. "Six60'S Latest Single 'Sundown' Is Another Song Of There's That We Absolutely Adore". More FM. 4 August 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
4. "Six60 - Sundown". Mai FM. 29 September 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
5. "SIX60 - Sundown". YouTube. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
6. "A Conversation with: Connor Pritchard". More FM. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
7. "SIX60 Sweep Up The Lion's Share At 2021's Vision Feast Awards". Scoop. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
8. "Six60 adds kapa haka to summer mix". Waatea News. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
9. "Credits / SIX60 / SIX60". Tidal. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
10. "Six60 – Sundown". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
11. "END OF YEAR CHARTS 2021". NZ Music Charts. RMNZ. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
12. "New Zealand single certifications". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.