Zachary Mason is a 27-year-old artist based in Guildford, UK. Since the Autumn of 2021, Zachary Mason has created more than 200 demo tracks on a recording kit gifted to him by a relative. He creates music in different genres, using acoustic and electric guitars, and also keyboards. His music has been well-received by names such as Rolling Stone En Español, 1111CR3W, Cage Riot, The Big Takeover, Tony Michealides, SPIN Magazine, and many others. An interview with Zachary Mason was also published in 2025 in SPIN Magazine. His recent single, ‘I Wish Humans Were Made In A Factory…’ appeared at No.13 on Groover’s charts. His single, ‘I’ll Get Through’ charted at No. 41 and No. 93 on the indie radio charts in 2024. Some of his songs were accepted into the catalogue of sync companies such as YTINIFNI Pictures (a prestigious film and TV company) and Brazilian film and TV company Relva Music. His favourite artists include Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and The Beatles.
With his single, “Madness Gladness,” out now, we took some time to hear from Zachary Mason. Read below to learn more about Zachary Mason, the story behind his single, and what’s to come.
Hi Zachary Mason! Let’s start with how did you get your artist name?
Hello M.E.I News! The name Zachary Mason originated in my teens when I wrote poetry and used to sign my works with that name. Using that name now for my musical endeavours brings a nice touch of nostalgia to it all!
What city are you from and where are you based now?
I was born and bred in Guildford, and I’m still there! I live just across the road from the renowned music store Andertons Music, which is nice – I have also worked there as a cleaner for many years and also get a lot of my musical gear from them.
At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? How did you get started?
I decided that I wanted to release my music in late 2021 . . . Earlier that year, I’d been gifted with a recording kit by a relative (purchased at the aforementioned Andertons!) and after a few months of recording decided, I wanted it to be more than just a hobby. Before 2021 I’d only played guitar sporadically, maybe recording bits and bobs on my phone when I felt like it. I used to dream more of being an author than a musician in my earlier days, but as it’s happened, I’m more known for my music at the moment! Despite making the decision to go down the musician route in 2021, it wasn’t until mid-2023 that I released my debut single, ‘Special People.’ Various issues and hold-ups had got in the way of my releasing earlier – but I got there in the end!
Has your upbringing played a role in shaping who you are and defining your sound today? If so, how?
Well, my father had a couple of songs or so recorded in his youth and was also in a band for a while, so music is kind of in my blood! I have my parents to thank for providing a very balanced and stable environment for me, which I guess has helped me to form and develop as an artist, and also express myself in a structured manner. I used to listen to music a lot as a child, and my father introduced me to a number of artists who I listened to a lot (Neil Young for instance, who is a favourite down to this day!) and who no doubt influenced my sound in later years…
How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?
Varied! And, I’d encourage them to listen for themselves and form their own opinion!
Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?
I like to read and that helps with creativity for sure. I read all kinds of different things (from Isaac Disraeli to Isaac Asimov!) and seeing all those ideas makes me feel like having ideas of my own! I also spend too much time watching TV and playing video games – although, inspiration does sometimes come as a result of those activities as well!
You mentioned earlier that you wrote poetry as a teenager. Do you still write at all?
Yes! Over the last year and a half or so, I’ve had a lot of poems, short stories and more published by the literary journal, ‘Fevers Of The Mind,’ on their website! I also had two of my short stories published in print by the same journal. I write under my real name, Daniel Macintyre. I also put a lot of my literary efforts on my other website, Scribbles! (scribblings.uk). Reading and writing were my first love, and I wanted to be an author from a young age, so it’s been satisfying to realise that dream to a certain extent in recent times!
Who are some of your main musical influences?
Neil Young, as mentioned earlier, is certainly an influence when it comes to my more folky tunes . . . I’ve also been likened to artists such as Bowie, Marc Bolan and The Beatles, so the influence my listening library has had on my work over the years is clear to see!
What are some of your future music career goals?
Just keeping going, doing my best with my releases and promotional efforts. Seeing some of my music in film/TV would definitely be a boost!
What’s one of the proudest moments of your music career so far?
I was recently interviewed and featured in SPIN Magazine by Ron Hart, which was a great moment in my career! (You can check that out if you wish by searching ‘Spin Magazine Now Hear This March 2025.’ I was No. 11).
What would you say are the greatest lessons that you’ve learned so far?
Getting into and learning how to use platforms, such as Groover and Musosoup, has helped boost my career and visibility – and I’ve also had the pleasure of meeting some charming people in the industry as well! I’ve also learned a lot in the last few years about recording music and my approach to creating songs. It’s a rewarding experience and there are always more things to learn, of course!
Now onto your release, ‘Madness Gladness.’ What inspired this song?
Like quite a few of my songs, this track features a fictional character who takes centre stage . . . He is experiencing the emotions of love – perhaps for the first time – and appears to be somewhat overcome by the whole situation! It can be nice to write song lyrics in the third person: that way, you can take the spotlight off yourself a little and really dig in with those words!
What is ‘Madness Gladness’ about?
I think it is a song that a lot of people could relate to – being overwhelmed and consumed by love to the point of distraction from everyday life! The ‘fictional character’ who stars in this song is not just distracted by his feelings, but also, as hinted by the line ‘…it’s bending his brain!’ seems to feel his health and sanity are at risk as a result of the emotional tumult . . . (I was reminded of Edgar Allen Poe while writing this!). I think there’s enough room in the song for most people to insert their own memories and experiences, whether good or bad . . . As the character is a fictional one, people might be more comfortable putting themselves in his shoes as well!
What is your favorite lyric in ‘Madness Gladness’ and why?
The opening words: ‘No real life – he’s dreaming! Merely seeming to be!’ set the tone nicely, I would say for the rest of the song . . . No beating about the bush or introductory details – we’re straight in there!
What message do you hope fans take away from your music and from ‘Madness Gladness?’
Frankly, I just hope that they take away a message from my music – what exactly that message might be is up to them!
What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects, or do you have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?
I have a lot of material waiting to be developed and released, so it’s just a case of having the right funding for the next project . . . My budget is a little low at the moment, so it might be a little while before my next release – but I’ve released a few songs now so fans at least have those to enjoy in the meantime! At the moment, I don’t perform live, so there’s no shows to report…
Where can we follow you on social media?
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zacharymasonsmusic/
X: https://x.com/zacharymmusic
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZacharyMasonmusic/
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zacharymasonmusic
Thank you for the great interview; wish you much continued success!
