Buckle up for a journey beyond the stars with Guildford singer-songwriter Zachary Mason, who returns to the music scene with his most ambitious single to date, Man Of The Universe. Produced alongside legendary music producer Stuart Epps (Led Zeppelin, Elton John, Oasis), the track delivers a riotously fun blast of psychedelic space-rock, featuring a good dose of Zachary’s tongue-in-cheek charm. Fresh off the release of Man Of The Universe, we sat down with Zachary to chat about crafting his interstellar sound and working with a modern music production icon..
By Jane Howkins
Hiya Zachary! How has your 2026 been so far?
In regards to my music, it has been a pretty good year for me! I’ve enjoyed lots of coverage via music blogs and writers, one of my songs made it to the semis of the ISC 2025, and I was recently hailed by Steven Cuoco (a 2X award=winning publicist) as having become “…one of the most quietly prolific independent artists of my generation”! I’ve also enjoyed releasing new music (including a new EP), so it’s been good!
You recently released the single Man Of The Universe. What can you tell us about the track?
This track was originally recorded in 2025 and it was fun to make! The song draws on my love of science fiction and many of the old pulp sci-fi stories and magazines. Instead of being a man of the world, the hero in the song is a ‘man of the universe’, as he has travelled just about everywhere in his trusty Titan Five, meeting all manner of aliens, foes and admiring females!
You worked with renowned producer Stuart Epps on the track. How did the collaboration come about and would you like to work with Stuart again?
I saw that he was advertising his production services on social media, so I sent him an email along with three demos of mine. He said all three were good and was happy to produce them all, but I selected Man Of The Universe only as it suited my budget at the time. It was fantastic to have Mr Epps as producer, and also performing on the drums, bass, organ and backing vocals! I would definitely like to work with him again if there was an opportunity!
Do you have any more singles planned for release soon?
Yes! Starry-Eyed Woman is set to release on November the 13th. This song has a dreamy, floaty feel to it, and fits into the dream pop/folk rock genre. I actually played the drums and bass via my keyboard for this one, something I haven’t done very often before, so fans may be interested in this one for more than one reason.
Are there any plans to release a full-length album or EP in the near future?
Nothing definite at the moment – it’s all about how the budget pans out. But I would certainly love to!
What have you been listening to recently that you can recommend? Who are your main influences as an artist?
I enjoyed Palace’s recent song Denny’s, and I also discovered Lady In The Darkest Hour by Kate Bollinger, which I liked. I also loved Neil Young’s Second Song, a recent release of his. Neil Young is likely an influence on my acoustic work, and I also find that I have been likened to Bowie’s sound quite a bit… Not all influences are traceable, but I have listened a lot to artists like Young, Dylan, The Beatles, Bowie and Status Quo, so I’m sure there has been some ‘rubbing off on me’ going on there!
You’re from Guildford. What is the local music scene like with you?
I must confess I know very likely about the local music scene here… One thing I would mention is that I live very close to the famous Andertons Music Store, at which I have also been a part of the cleaning team for more than twelve years now. I have obtained most of my musical gear from there, and the fact it is so close by is a real boon! There is also an ACM not far from my residence, though I’ve never been inside…
I hear you write under your real name – Daniel Macintyre. Why did you decide to use a different title for your music? Do you have any side projects on the go?
Zachary Mason was a name I used to write poetry many years ago as a teenager, so I chose the name for my music when I later became a musician; a sort of nostalgic choice, perhaps! I write short stories and other works under my real name, and was recently published by Metastellar which was nice!
Do you have anything else exciting coming up this year or next?
There’s the new single, of course! Besides that, I’m just taking it as it comes…
Any last words for the fans?
Hey, I’ve no intention of dying any time soon! (Haha!) On a serious note, I thank all those who enjoy my music and support it! And remind them that November 13th holds new music from Zachary Mason!
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