Zachary Mason Launches His Ridersized EP Concept “5…4…3…2…1…”
Guildford-based musician Zachary Mason leads listeners on a creative and sentimental interstellar expedition with his new EP, “5…4…3…2…1…”, a three-track episode with its own cadence, storytelling, and radical creativity, and our imagination. Blending Space, Psychedelic, and Experimental Rock, we’d think this would be the most ambitious thing to date since his debut album Songs in 2023. It’s both an experience with sound, along with a reflection piece on humanity, being forced to navigate situations to better ourselves and reclaim what we academics call longing for home.
The EP begins with its title track, “5…4…3…2…1…,” an overture-styled introduction to the earth’s demise. Introduced to a visceral story of humans being ‘forced’ to abandon their planet after climate change. Mason’s layered soundscapes, taken on by collaboration with dynamic drumming, Nate Barnes of Rose Hill Drive, create urgency and tension of chaos, departure, and vitality for humanity, making for an enticing start to an out-of-this-world tale.
Next is “The Funky Martians,” which is humorous and funky. As humans arrive on Mars, they encounter some brutish Martians in a story told with tongue-in-cheek humor and funky rhythms. Smooth bass lines by John Thomasson (Little Big Town) ground the track, and Mason’s whimsical production adds freshness and unpredictability. Buried under the humor and ridiculousness is a brilliant commentary on how humanity seems to repeat the same mistakes over and over again, even when they have a fresh start on fresh dirt.
“Earthsick,” the final track, reaches the EP’s emotional closure with a sense of earnestness and reflective sadness. Mason plays bass for the first time on a recorded song, using the keyboard to bring in some emotion and texture. The song’s meaning reflects humanity’s longing for its lost Earth–part reprimand and part eulogy. Mixed and mastered by Derrick Lin of Voyage In Solitude, it is a haunting end sequence that lingers long after the music stops.
What makes “5…4…3…2…1…” a complete success is Mason’s ability to blend humor, heart, and high-concept storytelling, while keeping the songs open and accessible. It is a space odyssey filled with wittiness, emotion, and layered musicianship, demonstrating his growth as an artist and courageous art-making.
Zachary Mason has more than 200 demos to his credit while accumulating a tape catalog list of accolades in the review of the modern rock art space. “5…4…3…2…1…” is not just a countdown EP, but a launch into a new artistic space that confirms Mason is ready for launch.
Get In Touch With Zachary Mason:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZacharyMasonmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zacharymasonsmusic/
Twitter(X): https://x.com/ZacharyMMusic
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zacharymasonmusic
Website: https://zacharymasonmusic.com/
