The 28-year-old bass player has returned to New Zealand after a four-year rugby stint overseas and will lock the scrum for Wellington against Otago in the Capital tonight.
You would think, with his talent, he would be left in charge of the tunes in the dressing room after the game.
But no - he tells made-up stories on the team bus instead.
''There is actually a music committee and I'm actually not in it,'' he said, laughing.
''I've been put in another committee ... and I have to make up stories on the bus and things.''
The founding members of Six60, including Matenga, met while studying in Dunedin and they started playing informal gigs in 2006.
The band's name came from the address where they lived at 660 Castle St - the noisiest flat on the street.
''At the time, 'Gardies' was still open. It used to close at [midnight] and we were just about 20m from Gardies and the whole pub used to come to 660 Castle St.
''Here we were, the band, playing for the whole pub.
''It is some of the best memories of my life.''
When Matenga made the Highlanders wider training squad in 2009, he was forced to make a decision between his two great loves - music and rugby.
He chose the latter and has no regrets.
''I had signed with the Highlanders at the time and it was a big goal of mine to pursue it and then go overseas and play. Music will always be there for me.
''I still keep in touch with [the band]. It is good to see they are doing well.
''I've been getting Snap Chats from the boys from over in LA with them in the studio with Pharrell [Williams] and I'm just going, `Wow, how awesome'.''
Dunedin and Otago have a special place in Matenga's heart and he has some mixed emotions about playing against his old team.
''In the professional era you go where you can get contracted, but Wellington is a great city and the Lions have a great set up, so I'm looking forward to playing them [Otago].''
Matenga hopes to secure a playing contract with a Super rugby team for next season and would like to play for the New Zealand Maori.
