MANKATO — Performing under the name Ocho, which means eight in Spanish, you’ve got to wonder why the singer’s recently released eighth album wasn’t self-titled.

It’s because the math is more complicated, he said. Only six of the albums are “studio albums,” a loose term considering he records the music himself. One is a Christmas album and the other is a live album. So, technically, this could be considered his eighth, or it could be considered his sixth.

“I think I’m going to have three ‘eighth’ albums,” said the Mankato singer-songwriter, whose birth name is David O’Connell.

He actually hadn’t thought of naming the eighth Ocho, but he has yet to release a self-titled record, so it’s certainly an option, he said. For now, he’s calling his latest release “Dessert First.”

“There was this hippy girl I met who was really superstitious about a lot of things. She was always talking about nutrition and stuff,” he said. “She would always eat dessert first, like she would have a piece of chocolate or fruit or something sweet. So I finally asked her, ‘Why do you do that?’

“She gave me an explanation I didn’t quite understand. But I thought it was a great idea (to eat dessert first).”

Ocho explains it as such: We’re not here forever on this planet, so we might as well enjoy ourselves while we’re here. The dessert first idea works into that theme, which is laced throughout the new album.

“There’s a lot of songs that are really playful,” he said. “It’s sort of a happy rock album.”

Ocho grew up in Pierre, S.D., and moved to Minneapolis to go to college. He moved to Mankato for a girl in 2000, which didn’t work out, but he finished his bachelor’s degree.

During the years that followed, Ocho moved to Oregon for his master’s, lived on the road for a stretch, moved back to Mankato and then back to Oregon. A fan of adventure, he doesn’t seem able to stay put. But he keeps coming back to Mankato, he said, because it’s his favorite place, and it’s the kindest to musicians.

“I’ve been around a lot,” he said. “I think this town is like where it’s at for being a musician because it’s small enough where you can make connections and meet everybody, and people appreciate it.”

Ocho returned to Mankato the last time in March and has been performing music regularly at the Coffee Hag, Wine Cafe and the Sugar Room. Jenn Melby, owner of the Hag, welcomes him to her stage every couple of months or so.

“His lyrics are very deep,” she said. “His lyrics make you think. He’s also very funny and intuitive, very rhythmic, and he’s a very strong guitar player.”

In addition to the new album, Ocho recently started hosting an open mic night at Professor’s in Mankato Place. Artists of all genres are welcome to participate beginning 9 p.m. every Thursday night.

“We’ve had rappers, acoustic musicians, people reading poetry — there’s been all kinds of fun things,” he said. “I think it’s really important that people get together and hear each other and play for each other and new people.”

As for the new album, Ocho will be performing music from it at upcoming shows. Some of the songs on the album were written up to five years ago and some are new. Overall, he thinks the record is in his top three, but then it’s pretty hard to rank your own work.

“It seems like so much time has gone by since 2003 when I recorded my first album. I’ve developed so much as a person,” he said. “It’s kind of apples and oranges.”

Home-grown albums include “Chicken Soup for the Chicken” (2003), “How to Make Everything Perfect” (2004), “GorillaBuddha!” (2006) and “Let’s Get ’em!” (2007).



If You Go

What

Singer-songwriter Ocho

When

Ocho hosts an open mic 9 p.m. every Thursday at Professor’s Music and Tobacco, 418 S. Front St., Free

(No open mic today due to Thanksgiving holiday)

Dec. 3 — 6 p.m., Art opening for Zach Swenson at the Coffee Hag, 329 N. Riverfront Drive, Free

For all upcoming events or to listen to samples of music, visit http://www.

myspace.com/ocho.