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.
Les Be Honest
Connan Mockasin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And was it really worth all of this
Heartache that was handed to me
Holding on just don't make sense
But the hardest part of letting go
Is tryin' to find a way
To let you know
So we'll just cry, cry
Cry until it's over
Can't it just be over
And we'll just cry, cry
Cry until it's all gone
Been holding on for too long
Time for us to move on
I'm tired of tryin' to find a reason why
So let's just cry
I've been thinking 'bout my life and
How much time I've wasted
I'm ready to put it all behind
Let it all be yesterday
But the hardest part of letting go
Is tryin' to find a way
To let you know
So let's just cry, cry
On each other's shoulders
Cry until it's over
Can't it just be over
And we'll just cry, cry
Cry until it's all gone
Been holding on for too long
Time for us to move on
I'm tired of tryin' to find a reason why
So let's just cry
Let's just cry
So let's just cry, cry
On each other's shoulders
Cry until it's over
Can't it just be over
And we'll just cry, cry
Cry until it's all gone
Been holding on for too long
Time for us to move on
And we'll just cry, cry
On each other's shoulders
Cry until it's over
Can't it just be over
And we'll just cry, cry
Cry until it's all gone
Been holding on for too long
Time for us to move on
I'm tired of tryin' to find a reason why
I'm tired of tryin' to find a reason why
I'm tired of tryin' to find a reason why
So let's just cry
In Connan Mockasin's song "Let's Be Honest," the singer confesses to feeling regretful and saddened by the past, as they reflect on their history and the heartbreak that came with it. They are tired of holding on to these feelings and are ready to move on, but they admit that the hardest part of letting go is figuring out a way to express their feelings to others. The singer suggests that the only way forward is to simply cry and release these pent-up emotions, leaning on each other for support until the sadness is gone.
The lyrics here tap into universal themes of loss and heartbreak, and the struggles that come with processing these emotions. The singer is honest about the pain and regret they feel, revealing a vulnerability that many listeners may be able to relate to. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the need to let go, but also highlights how difficult it can be to do so. Ultimately, the song suggests that sometimes the only way to move forward is to acknowledge and process our emotions, even if that means crying and being vulnerable.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh no, where did all the years go
Expressing regret for the passage of time and how quickly it seems to have gone by
And was it really worth all of this
Questioning the value of the experience and whether it was worth the hardship and heartache
Heartache that was handed to me
Acknowledging that the pain and sadness was something that was given to them, as opposed to something they brought upon themselves
Holding on just don't make sense
Realizing that trying to hold on to something that is causing pain is not logical or healthy
But the hardest part of letting go
Acknowledging that while letting go is necessary, it is still a difficult thing to do
Is tryin' to find a way
Recognizing that there is no easy solution or method for releasing oneself from the pain and moving forward
To let you know
Referring to someone who is causing pain or played a role in the situation, and wanting to communicate how they feel
So we'll just cry, cry
Realizing that sometimes all you can do is let the emotions out and cry
On each other's shoulders
Finding comfort and support in one another in a moment of intense emotion
Cry until it's over
Implies that letting the tears flow until they naturally stop is the best way to handle the situation
Can't it just be over
Expressing a desire for the situation to end and to move on
And we'll just cry, cry
Continuing to acknowledge that the emotional release of crying is the best way to deal with the situation
Cry until it's all gone
Implies that crying will eventually help to purge the emotions and allow the person to move forward
Been holding on for too long
Realizing that they have been holding on to the pain for longer than is necessary or healthy
Time for us to move on
Deciding that it's time to let go of the pain and start the process of healing and moving forward
I'm tired of tryin' to find a reason why
Expressing frustration about trying to rationalize or make sense of the pain and the situation
So let's just cry
Returning to the idea that sometimes the only thing that can be done is to let the emotions flow and cry
Writer(s): Connan Hosford
Contributed by Kylie V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bobby Bobby
on Forever Dolphin Love
#aliencore