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Connan Tant Hosford, better known by the stage name Connan Mockasin, is a New Zealand singer-songwriter, composer and record producer. Described as "a psych-funk oddball...a contrarian", Mockasin played a role in the contemporary crossover of psychedelia with indie music, and has been praised for his unique approach to songwriting.
Mockasin was born in Napier, Hawke's Bay, and raised in Te Awanga. He gained his moniker from his childhood habit of making Moccasin-like shoes out of sheepskin and old motorbike tyres. He moved to Wellington at the age of 20 to further his music career, and played in various bands until the formation of a group called 'Connan and The Mockasins' in 2006. They relocated to the United Kingdom the same year, and Mockasin was pursued by record labels before returning to New Zealand in 2008. He released his debut solo album in 2011, Forever Dolphin Love, to critical acclaim and success particularly in Europe. His second album, Caramel, was released in 2013, and was described by Pitchfork as "stainless world that is both unsettling and fitting". Mockasin has released a string of albums since then, the latest being 2021's Jassbusters Two, the "sequel" to his 2018 album Jassbusters. Additionally, he has scored and produced his own films, such as a visual interpretation of Jassbusters and Bostyn 'n Dobsyn.
Mockasin has also worked with Lawrence Arabia, Liam Finn, Dev Hynes, Mick Fleetwood, and MGMT, as well as his own father on the 2021 album It's Just Wind released through American label Mexican Summer. Those who have cited him as an influence include Beach House, Tyler, the Creator, Nilüfer Yanya, James Blake and Charlotte Gainsbourg. He has lived and worked in London, Lewes, Wellington, Manchester, Los Angeles and Tokyo. He is in a relationship with a Japanese glamour model and has one daughter.
In 2003, after moving back to Wellington, Mockasin briefly played in a band called "The Hornery Stiffmen" (later to become a track title on "Please Turn Me into The Snat"), consisting of Blake Pryor (Bass guitar) (who later appeared as an actor in "Bostyn 'n Dobsyn") and Christopher Chalmers (Drum kit), before forming his principal New Zealand group "Connan and the Mockasins", named after Connan's interest in making his own shoes. Playing alongside Connan were Ross Walker (upright Double bass) and Seamus Ebbs (Drum kit). It was with this band that Connan relocated to London in May 2006 after releasing their second Extended play "Uuu It's Teasy".
It was at this stage Hosford put together an incarnation of the existing Connan Mockasin live band: Betchadupa (Drum kit), Nicholas Harsant (Bass guitar), Sam Dust (keyboards) and infinite bisous (percussion).
Connan Mockasin toured with Radiohead in Australia and New Zealand throughout November 2012, playing sold-out shows in Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
Mockasin announced the release of his second album, Caramel in September 2013. It was released the following November. Connan commented, "I wanted to make something simple. Something nice and relaxed. I liked the name, and the album just came up around that. It's what I felt like 'caramel' music would be." The album was recorded in a hotel room in Tokyo: "I know a few people in Japan. We'd have little sleepovers, a bit of fun, a few drinks and stuff. I liked the atmosphere. It was just a hotel room, two beds. It was nice." Critics have said it is an album which "demands patience", and one which leaves you feeling as though "time is being stretched". It featured singles "I'm The Man That Will Find You" and "Do I Make You Feel Shy?".
Regarding the album cover, Mockasin wanted a "simple photo." He admitted that he had a "few different ideas," and he even considered changing the album cover after the initial tour.
Jassbusters will accompany a five-part film written and directed by Connan called "Bostyn 'n Dobsyn", which took an alleged 20 years to develop, and reached its current form after a 10-day shoot in Los Angeles in July 2016. The film tells the story of Mr. Bostyn (Connan Tant Hosford), and his student J. Dobsyn (Blake Pryor), and features Connan and band playing as a band of music teachers. The first episode "Belly Bubble" was premiered at the Vista Theatre, Los Angeles before a concert by Jassbusters, followed by a Connan Mockasin performance.
In 2015, Mockasin and British artist Devonté Hynes released the extended play Myths 001: Collaborative Recordings Captured in Marfa, TX March 9–16, 2015 through Mexican Summer, as part of their "Marfa Myths" series.
After having toured the United States extensively with Australian support act Kirin J. Callinan, Mockasin appeared on his November 2015 release "The Teacher", released on Parisian record label Record Makers.
Connan briefly curated concerts under the title "Mockasin's Wet Dream", the first of which took place in London's Moth Club, in collaboration with Charnwood based online music-library Tasty Morsels. The night featured performances by James Blake (who had recently announced Mockasin's involvement on his album 'The Colour in Anything'), Mockasin's father, Ade, Liam Finn and infinite bisous (Rory McCarthy of the Connan Mockasin touring band). The second Wet Dream would take place at Texan festival Marfa Myths, organised by American label Mexican Summer, and would include appearances by Ariel Pink and Andrew Van Wyngarden.
Rejoining BARB bandmates Lawrence Arabia and Liam Finn, Connan has occasionally played concerts in New Zealand under "Mockasin Arabia Finn". During a concert at Auckland's Crystal Palace, Connan performed a rendition of the Peter Green-era Fleetwood Mac song, "I Need Your Love So Bad", with Mick Fleetwood.
Connan contributed to James Blake's third album, 'The Colour in Anything', playing bass on "Noise Above Our Heads". James has cited Connan as an inspiration, adding "Me actually dancing or moving around onstage, nobody should ever see. But having him around always makes me feel like I could do anything." Connan joined James on stage periodically throughout a tour promoting his new record, singing harmonies. James later featured on "Momo's" from Mockasin's 2018 album Jassbusters.
Mockasin featured on MGMT's 2018 album Little Dark Age and can be seen in the music video for the album's title track.
During the 2018 edition of Marfa Myths, Connan's father Ade joined the band to record a new album, which was entirely improvised. Its rumoured release date is early 2019. The album was eventually released at 14 July 2021 under the title It's Just Wind.
Mockasin featured on Justice's 2024 album Hyperdrama, on the track Explorer.
Mockasin incorporates a "guitar warble" into much of his music.
With BARB
With Dev Hynes
With Soft Hair
Vogue Magazine referred to him as "groovy" and "lively."
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