Connan Mockasin

Connan Mockasin

Connan Mockasin is the performing name of Connan Tant Hosford, a musician from Te Awanga, New Zealand. His work is generally associated with neo-psychedelia, psychedelic pop, bubble pop and experimental-leaning indie pop.

Career

He first performs under the name Connan and the Mockasins while living in Wellington, New Zealand. That group includes Hosford on vocals and guitar, Ross Walker on upright acoustic bass and Seamus Ebbs on drums. In 2006 the band issues its second EP, Uuu It's Teasy, and tours New Zealand in support of it. The group plays a fundraising show in Wellington in May 2006, then relocates to London shortly afterwards. After a run of concerts in London, it returns to New Zealand for a national summer tour in 2006/2007.

In 2007 the project moves from London to a village in East Sussex in southern England. Walker is replaced on bass by James Milne, known for his work in Lawrence Arabia and Reduction Agents. The band then plays the CMJ festival in New York. Towards the end of that year Ebbs leaves, and Hosford later returns to New Zealand for a national tour in 2008, now working as a solo act under the name Connan Mockasin.

Albums and recordings

Mockasin’s first album, Please Turn Me into the Snat, is released in 2010 on Phantasy Sound and later in 2011 on Because Music. It reaches No. 39 on the New Zealand albums chart and is shortlisted for the 2011 Taite Music Prize. In 2011 it is reissued as Forever Dolphin Love, with a live bonus disc, on Phantasy and Because Music. His second album, Caramel, is released in 2013. His third album, Jassbusters, follows in 2018.

Collaborations and touring

In 2008 he collaborates with Norman Cook, known as Fatboy Slim, on a song for the Brighton Port Authority album. He also works with Liam Finn and Lawrence Arabia, and Finn contributes to his last album. In 2009 he tours Europe with The Veils and also appears live with Liam Finn and Micachu & the Shapes.

In 2009 Liam Finn performs with a new band called BARB on a small New Zealand tour. The line-up includes Hosford, James Milne, Eliza Jane Barnes, Seamus Ebbs, Jol Mulholland and Wild Bill Rickets, and the album is recorded at Roundhead Studios in Auckland. Mockasin also tours with Pete & The Pirates and later with Late of the Pier. He supports Mystery Jets at Somerset House in London with Elroy Finn on drums, Wild Bill Rickets on percussion and Nick Harsant on bass, and later appears on festival bills including Latitude Festival and Offset Festival.

In 2010 he tours the UK with Crowded House, performing in seated theatre-style venues. He also supports Warpaint on some UK dates. In 2012 he supports Radiohead on the Australasian leg of their world tour, playing shows in Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Around this period he also tours with Charlotte Gainsbourg after composing the song “Out Of Touch” for her album Stage Whisper.

Style and instruments

Mockasin is noted for an unusual sound and musical style. He plays a reshaped Stratocaster that resembles a Vox Teardrop in appearance. In 2016 he starts Soft Hair with Sam Dust, also known as LA PRIEST and formerly of Late of the Pier.