30 January 2020: Before the world changed. I was hired by the Danish brand Wood Wood to shoot their backstage during Copenhagen Fashion Week. I’ve shot hundreds of shows before. Maybe thousands. It’s rare that shows make an impression on me anymore. But this show stuck with me. I don’t remember the clothes at all, but I do remember the performance. This was the first time I heard Nikolaj’s voice.

Nikolaj’s voice does not sound like it should be coming out of his mouth. At least that was the first thought that crossed my mind when I heard When Saints Go Machine for the first time. I cannot really explain it, but his diction and tone just didn’t compute in my brain. After you view these photos, go listen to their music and see if you agree with me. Watching these men perform was simply mesmerizing and I immediately messaged Karl-Oskar (Wood Wood’s then Creative Director) to find out who the band was. He told me and I immediately listened to all their albums, and they have since lived on repeat on my speakers.

Yes, I Want to be In That Number…

Over three years later I’m standing outside of Nikolaj’s door in Copenhagen’s Rococo Frederiksstaden neighborhood waiting to walk with him to the studio where he and his bandmates will rehearse for two big shows in Århus and Copenhagen. As we walk through Nyboder and Østerport, Nikolaj points out places where he spent his youth. After passing his primary school we cross into Østerbro and find the studio. Nikolaj introduces me to Silas + Jonas and I disappear into the walls of the room and let them do their thing.

The room is small, Silas is in another room with his drum kit. I’m standing behind Jonas and his 7000 knobs, dials, screens, and sliders. Nikolaj is occupying whatever remaining square meters there are. It’s tiny and cozy and I feel like I’m witnessing something completely new. Fueled by Irma Blå coffee, the guys perfect their set and before I get too much in the way, I leave and say thank you. And then they invite me to the concert.

This was working out perfectly. I wanted to go to the concert but had hesitated in buying tickets as I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy going alone. Now I had a reason to be there. “I’m with the band”. On the 25th of November I arrive at Den Grå Hal in Christiania and find the guys packing in and rehearsing. It’s freezing cold outside, and it’s freezing cold in the venue.

During a break, Nikolaj tells me that this specific venue is important to them. A place where they saw shows growing up, listing off artists who you’d only ever dream of seeing live. Bob Dylan played here. Patti Smith. Rage Against the Machine. Red Hot Chili Peppers. An old military building, likely an armory. It’s an institution in Danish live music.

I leave the venue and come back just before the show starts. Backstage is very calm. I eat their licorice and head out to the pit. The show begins. Lights. Smoke. Lazers. I’m running around the pit. On the sides of the stage. In some high up walkways. The crowd is exploding with energy. Nikolaj runs around the stage. Jonas rages behind his machines. Silas smashes his drums as lasers reflect against his cymbals causing amazing effects for the photos. The show is over before I know it and I head backstage to congratulate and thank the boys before my cold ride home.

As amazing as the concert was, being a part of the lead-up and preparation was even more special. I’ve been backstage a countless times, but this was my first concert backstage. I’ve been invited back for their future shows, and I will be there.

Thank you to Nikolaj, Silas, and Jonas for letting me be a part of this story.