Mans Best Friend is a droning, experimental harsh noise artist from the fibers of Orange, Australia resident, Rowan. After catching a live show whilst touring Japan between Friendship, The Body, and Full of Hell, Rowan swiftly acquired some baseline hardware to begin constructing monoliths of noise inspired by the bludgeoning bands he witnessed. He possessed no technical know-how of piecing tracks together, however, through unrelenting experimentation across a myriad of diurnal cycles, he eventually struck the tone fizzling in his skull.

At the outset, Rowan’s work was quite improvisational and it continues to harbor this luster. His debut release, Dog EP, shores up abstract industrial soundscapes as his roommate mulls about his day in the background of the dense, yet relaxing reverberations crafted by Rowan’s hands. From his auditory experiments, a keen sense of candidness also percolates. And amidst what sounds like unbridled chaos and static froth curdling on the surface, the baritone drones undulating underfoot lull you into a trance-like state. His latest split with Dead Twin is a testament to this quality. Monolithic in both tone and length, Rowan’s 25-minute piece strikes a nerve of solace. It’s one that caresses you in abrasive tones, yet ultimately cracks a disheveled window for you to view a despondent landscape of Rowan’s construction and reflect.

In this conversation, Rowan discusses the formulation of Mans Best Friend. He delves into his noise production process and expounds upon an intriguing concept for a full-length album he is currently pouring over: deus ex machina, where human technology is perceived as god as we turn to our phones and other devices for guidance and reassurance in our lives. Thank you so much for listening.