Zachary Mason – Madness Gladness (2025)
Earlier this year, I was introduced to the singer-songwriter Zachary Mason with his track, ‘I Wish Humans Were Made In A Factory’. In the review, I ended with an eagerness to hear more from Mason and “create more happy memories” – and he’s back with the latest single ‘Madness Gladness’.
If you aren’t too sure who Zachary Mason is, here’s a quick recap. Performing as Zachary Mason, Daniel Macintyre hails from the UK – Guildford, Surrey, to be precise. Embracing a plethora of sounds, his songs find the link between organic and acoustic, then blur it in a flair of guitars, keyboards and drums. His musical journey began in March 2021, but it was his 2023 debut single ‘Special People’ that heralded the beginning of Mason’s career. To date, his music has explored genres like classic rock, grunge, indie-rock, folk, and pop.
Now, back to ‘Madness Gladness’.
A song with quite a history, ‘Madness Gladness’ was originally recorded in 2021, then re-recorded in early 2022, and then re-recorded a third time as this 2025 release. Capturing the heart of Mason as the years progressed, it’s sound is as diverse and the years it was recorded; however, a strong dream-pop flavour lingers amidst the folk-rock indie, and rock-orientated vibes.
Collaborating once again with Hong Kong-based Derrick Lin, ‘Madness Gladness’ is soft, soothing, charming, and tranquil. Floating atop a rippling sonic river with no cares in the world, the folksy haze of music laps at the sides of your comfortable boat. Joined by John Thomasson (bass) and Nate Barnes (drums), Mason’s soaring guitars build a vintage soft rock groove, dragging you back a few decades.
Melodically, ‘Madness Gladness’ is a wistful wash of mellifluous music, but it is the alignment of the theme that enhances its romantic feeling. Mason explains: “… the lyrics speak of a fictional character who is overcome with the power of love, which brings madness but also gladness in this person’s mind.”
In addition to the single, Zachary Mason released an official lyric video for ‘Madness Gladness’. You can view the video below or on Mason’s YouTube channel.
Find out more about Zachary Mason on his official website, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Listen to more dream-pop music on The Other Side Reviews Dream Pop playlist:
