Connan originally started a "blues-pop" band whilst living in Wellington, New Zealand, known as Connan and the Mockasins. The group consisted of Connan Hosford (vocals, guitar), Ross Walker (upright acoustic bass) and Seamus Ebbs (drums).
In April–May 2006, the band released their second EP, Uuu It's Teasy, and toured New Zealand to promote the album. They played a fundraising New Zealand show in Wellington on 26 May 2006, before relocating to London on the 30th.
After a series of concerts in London, the band visited New Zealand again for a national 2006/2007 Summer tour.
In 2007, the band moved from London to a village in East Sussex south of England. Ross Walker was replaced by James Milne, of Lawrence Arabia and Reduction Agents fame, on bass guitar. The band then played the CMJ festival in New York. Towards the end of 2007 Ebbs left the band to pursue his career, shortly before Hosford returned to New Zealand for a national tour in 2008 with a new lineup - becoming a solo act under the name 'Connan Mockasin'.
In 2008, Connan collaborated with Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim) on a song for the upcoming Brighton Port Authority album. He also finished a tour with Pete & The Pirates and set out on a February tour with Late of the Pier. Connan has also collaborated with musicians Liam Finn and Lawrence Arabia. Finn also contributed to their last album. In 2009, Connan Mockasin started touring with befriended band The Veils through Europe, as well as gigs with Liam Finn and Micachu & the Shapes.
In August 2009, Liam Finn performed with a new band called BARB on a small New Zealand tour consisting of Connan Hosford, Lawrence Arabia (James Milne), Eliza Jane Barnes, Seamus Ebbs, Jol Mulholland and Wild Bill Rickets. Their album (recorded at Roundhead Studios in Auckland, New Zealand) is set for release in August 2010.
Connan plays a reshaped Stratocaster, similar in looks to a Vox Teardrop.
In 2010 Connan embarked on a UK tour with Crowded House, playing huge theatre-like venues with mostly seated areas. This proved an interesting challenge for Connan and his group as most would consider his music much more alternative or left-field than that of Crowded House, although Connan had expressed an interest in playing to seated crowds in places such as libraries or theatres.
Connan supported Mystery Jets at their gig on 8 July at Somerset House in London with a line up consisting of Elroy Finn (brother of Liam Finn) on drums, Wild Bill Rickets on percussion and Nick Harsant on bass. That summer the line up (with occasional guests on guitar and keys) played several festival shows such as Latitude Festival and Offset Festival.
In 2010 Connan supported Warpaint on some of their UK tour dates.
In 2012 Connan supported Radiohead during the Australasian leg of their world tour playing six sell out arena shows, one in Auckland, one in Brisbane and two in Sydney and Melbourne.
Connan Mockasin released their first album "Please Turn Me into the Snat" in 2010 on Phantasy Sound, Erol Alkan's record label, and in 2011 on Because Music. The album reached No. 39 on the New Zealand album charts,[1] and received glowing reviews from critics including NME and Drowned in Sound. It was also shortlisted for the 2011 Taite Music Prize.
On 28 March 2011 the album was re-released as "Forever Dolphin Love" with a live bonus disc on Phantasy and Because Music. Mockasin has received favorable reviews for his unusual sound and musical style.
Label-mate Samuel Dust of Late of the Pier has toured with Connan Mockasin as a backing musician.
Mockasin and band have been touring with Charlotte Gainsbourg as her live band after Mockasin composed the song 'Out Of Touch' for her latest album Stage Whisper.
Mockasin toured with Radiohead in Australia and New Zealand throughout November 2012, playing sold out shows in Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
Mockasin released his second album, Caramel, in September 2013.
In 2016 he started a side-project Soft Hair with Sam Dust (LA PRIEST / Late of The Pier).
In 2018 Connan Mockasin released their third album Jassbusters.
Forever Dolphin Love
Connan Mockasin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That never change
Of Dalston
Forever Dolphin Love
Why dull steed, she has no hair
I’ll talk to her
Forever Dolphin Love
And Dun's life, he’s turning heads.
He talks to her
Forever Dolphin Love
From memories
That never change
Of Dalston
Forever Dolphin Love
Oh Sunder, I loved her
She was to be my wife
Oh Sunder, I loved her
She was to be my wife
My wife, my wife
From Black Beans
That never change
Of Dalston
Forever Dolphin Love
From Big West
That never go
Of Dalston
That never back in place
From Big West
That never go
Of Dalston
Forever Dolphin Love
From memories
That never change
Of Dalston
Forever Dolphin Love
The lyrics to Connan Mockasin's song Forever Dolphin Love are cryptic and open to interpretation. The song opens with the mention of Big West, a nod to the New Zealand coastal town where Mockasin is from. The reference to Dalston, however, is curious as it is a neighborhood in London. Perhaps it is a nod to the shared experience of feeling like an outsider, a fish out of water, in a new place.
The lines "Why dull steed, she has no hair, I'll talk to her" and "And Dun's life, he’s turning heads. He talks to her" suggest that the singer is attempting to comfort someone who is going through a difficult time. The theme of love runs throughout the song, as evidenced in the repeated phrase "Forever Dolphin Love." The mention of Sunder and the desire to have her as a wife adds another layer of complexity to the song. It's possible that Sunder represents a lost love, or a love that was never realized.
Overall, the lyrics to Forever Dolphin Love are dreamlike and poetic, inviting multiple interpretations. The sense of longing and nostalgia that permeates the song is palpable, and the repeated refrain of "Forever Dolphin Love" adds an almost hypnotic quality to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
From Big West
Starting from a place with a big and wide perspective
That never change
Where things always stay the same and don't transform
Of Dalston
Within the boundaries of a specific area called Dalston
Forever Dolphin Love
A sincere and dedicated affection for a sea creature that exceeds time
Why dull steed, she has no hair
Questioning the lack of appearance and attractiveness of a female horse but still being interested in interacting with her
I’ll talk to her
Approaching the horse anyways to have a conversation
And Dun's life, he’s turning heads.
Dun, a person, is attracting attention to himself
He talks to her
Dun is engaging in dialogue with the previously mentioned horse
From memories
The recollection of past events
That never change
Those memories that remain constant and don't evolve over time
Oh Sunder, I loved her
Referring to a person named Sunder who was previously in love with someone
She was to be my wife
Expressing the intention of marrying the mentioned love interest
My wife, my wife
Reiterating the sentiment that the love interest in question was going to be his spouse
From Black Beans
When the perspective shifts to a new location referred to as Black Beans
That never change
Where things always stay the same and don't transform
Of Dalston
Still within the boundaries of the same specific area called Dalston
Forever Dolphin Love
Reasserting the dedicated and heartfelt admiration for the aquatic mammal
From Big West
Returning to the previous location of Big West
That never go
Where things and people never leave
Of Dalston
Within the same area of Dalston as previously mentioned
That never back in place
Where those that did leave never return to exactly where they were before
From Big West
Continuing to focus on Big West
That never go
Emphasizing the same idea of things and people never leaving
Of Dalston
Still in the same specific area of Dalston
Forever Dolphin Love
Re-emphasizing the profound attachment to the dolphin that will last forever
Contributed by Aubrey A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@a.a.6726
This feels like the perfect balance of pain and pleasure.
@lordcripplus4751
Well said
@alg3rn0n73
A tad bit more pain...
@dethyl
Shut up Baby dick
@sebastianalarcon1204
Best comment I have seen in my life.
@toshjuarez1129
@Sebastian Alarcon shut up baby divk?
@ianmooney5566
he starts off happy chillin with his groovy buddies then goes chasing dolphin girl for miles, then he ends up alone. Damn thats life in a nutshell.
@stoned_kakapo8736
This is the best comment on a music video that I have ever read.
@puffmyblunt
She was too sad to be with another.......especially another sad person.
@ayaonora
he doesn’t end up alone. he ends up with her and his friends too. you must have not finished watching the video