Carpark North

Carpark North is a Danish electronic rock band. The band was formed in Aarhus, Denmark on 28 July 1999 by Lau Højen (vocal, guitar), Søren Balsner (bass, synthesisers) and Morten Thorhauge (drums). The name "Carpark North" was created from the electro and rock genres: "Carpark" stands for car parks, edges, roughness, metal – the rock part, and "North" stands for northern lights, stars ethereal electronics.

Carpark North
Background information
Origin	Denmark
Genres	Electronic rock
Years active	1999–present
Labels	Copenhagen, EMI Medley, Sony Music
Members	Lau Højen Søren Balsner Morten Thorhauge
Website	www.carparknorth.dk

History

The foundation for Carpark North was laid at Mellerup Efterskole, where Søren Balsner and Lau Højen met and formed a band. This band played in the national championship in rock in 1997.

Søren and Lau split up after Mellerup, and Lau started his education at high school – Aarhus Katedralskole. Here he joined a band – "Spacekraft" and met Morten Thorhauge a young drummer from Søften. After a couple of months Lau and Morten formed their own band, and contacted Søren.

The first notes by Carpark North were played on a hot summer day in July 1999 in the MGK-facilities in Aarhus, Denmark.

In January 2010, the band announced that they had been signed internationally by Sony Music.^[1]

In 2016, the band released "Unbreakable," the theme song for LEGO's Nexo Knights television series.

Members

• Lau Højen – vocals, guitar
• Søren Balsner – bass, synths, vocals
• Morten Thorhauge – drums

Awards

• Danish Music Awards (2006) – Video of the Year ("Human"), directed by Martin de Thurah
• Robert (2004) – Best Film Score ("Transparent & Glasslike")
• Zulu Award (2003) – Newcomer of the Year
• P3 Guld (2003) – Hit of the Year ("Transparent & Glasslike")
• Gaffa Prisen (2003) – Newcomer of the Year
• P3 Prisen (2001) – Newcomer MP3 Prisen

Appearances in media

• TV show Alias (2005) – with the song "Homeland" from Carpark North.
• Video game FIFA 08 (2007) – with the song "Human" from All Things to All People.
• Film Midsommer (2003) – Carpark North's debut Carpark North was chosen to be the official soundtrack for the film.
• Film Nordkraft (2005)

Discography

Studio albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		DEN [2]
Carpark North	Released: 26 February 2003 Label: EMI	1
All Things to All People	Released: 25 April 2005 Label: EMI	4
Grateful	Released: 8 September 2008 Label: Copenhagen Records	5
Lost	Released: 27 August 2010 Label: Sony Music	—
Phoenix	Released: 27 January 2014 Label: Copenhagen Records/Universal Music	4
Hope	Released: 27 October 2017 Label: Copenhagen Records/Universal Music	4
Air	Released: 4 April 2025 Label: United Records/Universal Music	28 [3]

Compilation albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		DEN [2]
Best Days (Greatest & Live)	Released: 1 November 2010 Label: Copenhagen Records	10

EPs

• Carstereo (2000) (demo)
• 40 Days EP (2002)

Singles

Title	Year	Peak chart positions		Album
		DEN Singles Chart [2]	DEN P3 Tjeklisten [4]
"There's a Place"[5]	2001	—	—	Non-album single
"40 Days"	2002	—	—	40 Days EP
"Transparent & Glasslike"	2003	24[+]	1	Carpark North
"Wild Wonders"		—	1
"Kiss Me"		—	5
"Human"	2005	9	1	All Things to All People
"Best Day"		—	2
"Fireworks"		—	8
"Song About Us" (Live in Copenhagen)		—	—	Non-album single
"The Beasts"	2006	—	4	All Things to All People
"Shall We Be Grateful"	2008	5	2	Grateful
"More"		22	6
"Save Me From Myself"	2009	12	2
"Leave My Place"		—	17
"Lost (Peace)"	2010	—	—	Lost
"Just Human"		—	—
"Burn It"		27	—	Best Days (Greatest & Live)
"Leave My Place" (re-release)	2011	—	—	Lost
"Everything Starts Again"		34	—	Best Days (Greatest & Live)
"Army of Open Arms"	2013	25	—	Phoenix
"32" (featuring Stine Bramsen)		5	—
"You're My Fire" (featuring Nik & Jay)	2014	22	—
"Renegade"		38	—
"Unbreakable"	2016	—	—	Non-album singles
"Heroes" (with Samu Haber)	2018	—	—
"If I Were Your King"	2023	—	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Notes

• ⁺ – "Transparent & Glasslike" didn't chart on the Danish Singles Chart until in 2009.