MAN AS MACHINE – return with powerful new single
- Posted on 19-06-2026
After years of change, reflection, and rebuilding, South African rock outfit Man As Machine return with their first new music since before the pandemic. Their latest single, The Right Words, marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the band and is the first release featuring their revitalised lineup.
Formed in Gauteng in 2009, Man As Machine quickly established themselves as one of South Africa’s most respected live rock acts, earning a reputation for explosive performances and sharing stages with international artists including Protest The Hero and Dead Letter Circus, while appearing alongside local heavyweights such as Fokofpolisiekar, Prime Circle, Wonderboom, Van Coke Kartel and Zebra & Giraffe. Their acclaimed albums Nothing But A Thing (2011) and Patterns (2015), along with award-winning music videos and appearances at major festivals including OppiKoppi, RamFest and Synergy, cemented their place in the local rock landscape.
Following the departure of two founding members and an extended hiatus brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the remaining members faced an uncertain future. Rather than walking away, they chose to channel that uncertainty into new music.
“Lyrically, it took longer to fill the space… two founder members had left the band and I found I had nothing to say. KJ said I should write about that,” explains vocalist and guitarist Rob Visser. “The Right Words became a love song to the band, to the noise, to this group in all its forms, as it was, and as it is now.”
Driven by relentless energy, soaring melodies and unapologetic honesty, The Right Words captures the feeling of searching for hope and purpose when the words don’t come easily but refusing to stop trying.
The track was recorded and mixed by Jacques du Plessis at High Seas Studios and mastered by Rogan Kelsey at Kelsey Mastering. It is the first of several new singles already completed and scheduled for release over the coming months.
Now featuring Rob Visser (vocals/guitar), KJ Forde (drums), Misty Sutherland-Dadds (guitar) and Roushan Lume (bass), Man As Machine continues to deliver the fiery melodies, crushing grooves and hard-hitting rock that have defined them for nearly two decades.
With more music, videos, live shows and festival appearances on the horizon, The Right Words signals not only the return of Man As Machine but the start of an exciting new era.
Follow Man As Machine