We're proud to bring you our next exclusive Barkers Sundae Session, this time with Connan Mockasin. Originally from the Hawkes Bay, Connan now mostly splits his time between Paris, New York, and Tokyo, but was back home in New Zealand for the first time in two years to play at Laneway Festival in January, when he also managed to film this session on an inner-Auckland rooftop.
Who: Connan Mockasin
From: Te Awanga in the Hawkes Bay
Line-up: Connan (whose real name is Connan Hosford - he chose the stage name Mockasin because of his love for making the shoes) is a solo aritst, but he has a four-piece touring band (Sofia Karchi, Matt Eccles, Nick Harsent, Rory McCarthy), and is often accompanied by special guests. Here he's got Mac DeMacro and Elroy Finn playing some percussion, and Liam Finn and James Milne jumping up for some backing vocals (in the blonde wigs).
Where he's at: He's been making his singular music for more than a decade, has released six albums, and since he was picked up by British record label Phantasy, he's spent most of the last five years touring Forever Dolphin Love (2011) and Caramel (2013) around Europe, America, and Japan. He's toured with Radiohead, Warpaint, and Mac DeMarco, recorded with Fatboy Slim and Charlotte Gainsbourg, and is a frequent collaborator with Liam and Elroy Finn, and Lawrence Arabia.
What he sounds like: Strange, sexy, whimsical, psychedelic. He calls it "pap" music, but ultimately it's very free, very playful, and very cool.
What they're playing in the Sundae Sessions: Tracks from his latest album Caramel, as well as stuff from Forever Dolphin Love, and older favourites.
Highlights: Connan's amazing guitar sounds, his collection of over-qualified backing singers in doppelganger disguises, how tight and groovy the band are despite the improvisational nature of the songs, the appearance of Connan's father Abe to sing The Beatles While My Guitar Gently Weeps, and of course the balmy-Auckland-evening-on-a-rooftop vibe.
Read more:
• Connan Mockasin's surreal seduction
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