By: Staff
Zachary Mason and the release "Fathers" is a song that will touch hearts everywhere.
There’s something profoundly moving about music that feels like a reflection of life’s most meaningful connections. A rising artist from the heart of the UK has crafted a song that does just that, a heartfelt piece that resonates deeply with the shared experiences of family, love, and memory. With its delicate acoustic tones and evocative lyrics, this new release invites listeners into an emotional journey that will linger long after the final note fades.
This latest single offers a poignant tribute to relationships that define us, particularly the powerful and nuanced bond between parents and children. Its timeless folk-inspired melody pairs perfectly with the artist’s unique ability to translate emotion into sound, creating a track that is both deeply personal and universally relatable.
But who is the artist behind this emotive creation? And what inspired such an introspective piece? In our recent interview, we delve into the story behind the song, uncovering the creative process, the message it carries, and what lies ahead for this multi-talented musician.
Read on to discover the story behind Fathers and the artist who brought it to life.
Begin Interview:
Hello Zachary Mason, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more excited to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
What inspired you to write Fathers? Was there a specific moment or memory that led to its creation?
I think I drew on my own special relationship and experiences with my father in this song; I had also been intending to write something regarding fathers and the effect becoming one has on a person for a little while- I have several outlets for my artistic side such as poetry, essays and fiction, but this idea came out in song! I think a lot of artists experience an urge to explore and define life’s deepest channels, and this was what inspired the song for me as well as my personal experiences: a feeling of wonder and discovery and profound meaning…
The song delves deeply into the emotions of fatherhood. How did you approach capturing such universal yet personal feelings in your lyrics?
In a lot of my songs, I just allow the feeling to guide me wherever it may go- my emotions are like a river, I’m in a boat controlling the rudder, but I can only steer within the confines of that river, as it were… The wonderful thing about music is that, if you use it to express a strong feeling, chances are a lot of other people will feel that way too…
Fathers takes a folk-inspired direction. Can you tell us about the creative process behind the song's arrangement and instrumentation?
A lot of my songs start with a brief musical idea or two which I record on my phone; then when I feel like taking it further, I usually record the main melody and then build from there. I believe I first had the idea for the guitar riff for Fathers on October 11th this year- the next day I composed and recorded the guitar solos, keyboards and vocals. Lyrics often take about 20- 30 mins to write for me, with some exceptions… Some songs take weeks or months to progress after the first idea as I just don’t feel the right mood- Fathers happened quickly though and sometimes that’s a good thing! I’ve already done quite a few folky tracks so it’s a fairly familiar sound to me.
With around 200 demo tracks in your collection, how do you choose which songs to develop and release?
There are quite a few demos I did in the early days of my recording which weren’t done right, due to my inexperience, so sadly those are not for release at the moment… Over time I’ve learnt more and now have a fair collection of releasable tracks… I first started recording using a DAW back in March 2021 and had no idea I’d be releasing songs one day- then in September 2021 I started to progress a little more and entertained ideas of becoming a musician for real. I went through an intense creative phase back then and even averaged 2 to 3 songs a week at one point! It's such a shame so many demos were recorded badly! Due to various issues, I didn’t actually get a song out there till July 2023, so it’s been a long journey! I usually just choose whatever song I feel like releasing and have confidence in… Feedback from people I know who listen to my demos can help too!
Where do you start the production of your music, i.e. in a home recording studio or with an outside producer? How do you finalize your finished work, ie self-mixed/mastered or another source?
I record my songs in a home studio- which was also a bedroom up until late last year!- then I send them off to have them mixed and mastered. At the moment I’m working with Derrick Lin for the final polish- he’s great to work with and produces good work at a reasonable price!
What are the main challenges you face as a solo artist, and how do the benefits of working independently compare?
Well, a lot of things are quite costly these days so money and funding promotional activities can be a nuisance… Apart from that, I’m quite happy working to my own deadlines and schedules and releasing what I want to release. I’ve never worked for a record label so I don’t have experience on both sides of the fence…
Which of your already released songs, including this one, is the most important to you, or had the most impact on your life or career and can you tell us why?
Hello World, the last track on my debut Album Songs, is my personal favourite among my releases so far. It first began as an acoustic song back in August 2021, which was then recorded with an electric guitar a little differently in March 2022 I believe… I love the melody and message of the song, and also the nostalgia wrapped up within it, with memories of my early days of recording being brought back and the old bedroom “studio”! Also, Hello World was the first song I had picked by a sync supervisor to be pitched for use in film and TV!
Your previous single, Sweet Sunshine, was selected for over 40 radio stations. How does that success influence how you approach new releases like Fathers?
It gives me more confidence and a stronger foundation for my hopes of success! Actually, Sweet Sunshine was highlighted by my distributor as my most streamed song of this year, which is great!
Some of your work has been added to the catalogues of sync companies. Are you interested in pursuing more opportunities in film and TV with your music?
Yes! I’m currently working with YTINIFNI Pictures to hopefully get something into film and TV. Any song used anywhere is good news- but I’d be particularly pleased if Hello World gets used, of course!
How do your live performances of these songs differ from how they are recorded?
I don’t currently perform live so I couldn’t say… At the moment I’m concentrating on what comes out of the studio.
Can you tell us about the recording process for Fathers, particularly the use of the plugged-in acoustic and keyboard?
The guitar was recorded through my trusty Boss Katana MKII (one of the best amps on the market in recent years I believe!) and was played on an Alvarez acoustic guitar. I’ve only one other song released so far which has been done with plugged-in Acoustic: Don’t Feel Very Much Like A Man is the one… It’s a very nice sound and something I may experiment with more one day! The keyboard is a fairly new Casio I bought which I plug directly into the box of tricks- I used to record keyboard sounds using a mic in times gone by, which wasn’t always ideal as sometimes you could hear the keys clunking as I pressed them! The keyboards are very simple on Fathers, but add a gentle flavour of dreaminess and tranquillity I would say…
In a world where the music industry can be demanding, have you ever faced moments where you questioned continuing? What motivates you to push through those moments?
I guess I have considered quitting, but I’ve come a fair way and I do love music and sharing it- that’s why I’m still here, I suppose!
What do you hope listeners take away from Fathers? Is there a particular feeling or message you want to resonate with them?
I hope it evokes happy memories in people and, for those who are a father, a profound sense of the change it has wrought both within and without themselves… But I’m not going to start making rules about how or why people enjoy my music- that’s up to them!
Being based in Guildford, UK, how has your environment influenced your music or creative process?
City life in Guildford is not very appealing to me, so some of my songs convey a sense of escapism and getting away from it all to some retreat by the sea or in the country…
Some of my works touch on my experiences on the Isle Of Wight, where I frequently holiday (I begin a four-day break there tomorrow, funny enough!) and enjoy the scenery. It can be a great place to get creative artistically, and I’ve fond memories of some of the songs I’ve recorded after a trip there!
Finally, what can fans look forward to next, both in terms of your upcoming rock-inspired songs and beyond?
After the latest single I’ll be continuing my foray into the Rock Genre, so I hope fans enjoy going on that journey with me and experiencing another side of my artistic output! I’m just going to keep plugging away and see where it takes me! Hopefully, that river of emotion will one day lead to the sea!
Zachary Mason, thank you so much! We appreciate you taking the time to talk to us.
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared Zachary Mason’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
Now, click the links below to experience their incredible work firsthand!
Check out this latest release and listen to more on Spotify & YouTube
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