Last week, one of my favorite futurepop projects shared the startling news that they are splitting up. By the end of the year, Beyond Border will be no more.
Here is the official statement they posted on social media:
Together, we’ve shared stages, released albums, traveled countless kilometers, celebrated, laughed, doubted, kept going—and, above all, experienced an incredible number of special moments with you. Moments that will stay with us.
That makes it all the harder to tell you today that this shared journey under the name Beyond Border is coming to an end.
At the end of this year, we will cease all activities as Beyond Border.
This decision was not an easy one for us. But sometimes, moving forward also means having the courage to let go of something that means a great deal to you. We’ve thought long and hard about it and are convinced that this is the right step.
This news hits close to home because Beyond Border and Synthpop Fanatic have grown up together. Both projects began around the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, found our footing, and built our audiences. Beyond Border was one of the first bands I interviewed and the first in my series of best new synthpop artists of the year. I’ve also gotten to know Michael Deiters online. He’s shared unfinished songs with me, reached out with updates, and when I heard a Beyond Border song in a club for the first time, I immediately sent him a video.
Beyond Border leaves behind a legacy that includes three albums, numerous singles, several collaborations, festival performances at events like M’era Luna and Dark Malta, and legions of fans around the world. In 2021, I named their song “What Makes the World Go Round” the best synthpop song of the year.
I am sad to see them go.
The origin of BEYOND BORDER
Beyond Border formed in Germany around 2017 when musician Michael “Deity” Deiters approached singer Kai Vincenz “Iggi” Németh about working together. Deity was a longtime club DJ in Hanover, and Iggi was already known for his charismatic voice as the frontman of In Good Faith. The two met at a Depeche Mode party where In Good Faith was performing. Deity liked what he heard and sent Iggi some demos the following day. Beyond Border was born.
The duo made their debut in late 2019 with an energetic, club-friendly futurepop sound that drew comparisons to VNV Nation, Frozen Plasma, and Code 64. Their earliest releases include dancefloor anthems like “Neurotic,” “Enjoy Your Life,” and “Construction.” They also recorded an energetic cover of the Visage classic “The Damned Don’t Cry.” I was immediately hooked by their thick beats, creative synth arrangements, and Iggi’s remarkable voice, which could shift from a delicate whisper to a powerful wail.
Beyond Border’s popularity grew during the COVID-19 pandemic, even as clubs and concert halls around the world remained shuttered. In December 2021, they released their debut album, Awakening, the first part of an ambitious trilogy called Welcome to the Future. The album includes “Aching,” a cover of “Cry Little Sister” from The Lost Boys, and “What Makes the World Go Round,” a joyous celebration of music, dancing, and friendship that I named the best synthpop song of 2021.
BEYOND BORDER completes their Welcome to the Future trilogy
Following the release of their debut album, Beyond Border continued to drop new music, including a pair of EPs in 2022 called Saint and Sinner. Then, another milestone: Beyond Border joined the German independent label NoCut Entertainment, which released their sophomore album, Gathering, in January 2024. Gathering expanded their sound with more personal lyrics about self-doubt, claustrophobia, and other emotional struggles, all wrapped in the band’s trademark electronic anthems. It includes the lovely, uplifting anthem “Let’s Just Live” and its fiery antithesis “Hate Myself.”
Beyond Border entrenched themselves in the scene by collaborating with other artists. Over the years, they’ve worked with Brian Belknap of BlakLight, j:dead, Xavier Morales of Ruined Conflict, super producer Rob Dust, and numerous others. Their music has also been remixed by an impressive roster of artists that includes Mesh, Aesthetic Perfection, and Solitary Experiments.
As their popularity grew, Beyond Border became a fixture on the European dark electronic festival circuit, performing at events like M’era Luna and Dark Malta. In 2024, they expanded their live lineup with keyboardist René Brandt, transforming the original duo into a trio.
Beyond Border completed the Welcome to the Future trilogy in March 2026 with Aftermath. The album includes the singles “Machines (Hello Goodbye)” and “Lost Inside,” as well as the explosive “Last Dance,” which features guest vocals from Xavier Morales of Ruined Conflict. Aftermath now serves as the project’s final musical expression.
What’s next for Iggi and Deity?
This may be the end of Beyond Border, but it won’t be the last time you hear from these two gifted artists.
Iggi plans to return to his longtime project In Good Faith. The German synthpop band hasn’t released new music since their 2021 EP, Rising, so it will be exciting to hear what they’ve been working on. There are no details about new music yet, but it’s encouraging to know that Iggi will continue sharing his remarkable voice with the world. Follow In Good Faith on Facebook.
Deity is already preparing his next musical adventure, a new project called Imitation of Life. He’s been teasing new material on Facebook, and the project’s description sounds intriguing. Imitation of Life will blend the dark, poetic atmosphere of ’80s synthpop with modern electronic sounds. Inspired by the political tensions and uncertainty of the Cold War era, the music will explore themes that feel surprisingly relevant today. Follow Imitation of Life on Facebook.
Beyond Border may be coming to an end, but I’ll be following both artists wherever their music takes them next.
