When Saints Go Machine

Formed in Copenhagen, the Danish band When Saints Go Machine has been developing an experimental-tinged electronic pop since the late 2000s, marked by Nikolaj Vonsild’s high, fragile voice and a dense focus on synthetic textures. Originally emerging from the local club and indie scene, When Saints Go Machine sits at the crossroads of synth-pop, slow R&B and atmospheric electronic music, blending rhythms that sometimes verge on slowed house, thick bass lines and vocal arrangements that are almost choral. The release of their debut album Ten Makes a Face in 2010 established the project beyond Denmark, followed in 2011 by Konkylie, where the songwriting gains breadth and plays with contrasts between intimacy and more upfront productions. With Infinity Pool in 2013, When Saints Go Machine accentuated the darker, more minimalist side of their aesthetic while maintaining a pop grounding. After a quieter period, the group reappeared with So Deep in 2018, which refocused their sound on sparser atmospheres and a particular attention to voices and the spaces left between instruments, continuing the band’s ties to Copenhagen’s electronic scene and the members’ side projects.