Glasperlenspiel at Europa-Park: Coasters and Parkgeflüster

Carolin Niemczyk and Daniel Grunenberg took a short break from the stage. They were already back where childhood, hits and roller coasters belong together for them: at Europa-Park. Why is the duo Glasperlenspiel taking a break in Rust, of all places? Because for the two from Lake Constance, Germany's largest theme park is not merely a backdrop. It feels like coming home.

The musicians have been loyal guests in Rust for several years. Their schedule is packed, but they still used a short break from the stage to collect special memories. Roller coaster enthusiasts, they treated themselves to plenty of action. The catapult coaster “blue fire Megacoaster” raced with them at breakneck speed through Iceland's rugged landscapes. Then “Voltron Nevera powered by Rimac,” the multi-launch coaster, pulled them through an authentic Croatian landscape. They were not about to miss the steel roller coaster “Silver Star,” either. Right there, Carolin and Daniel got to know the new Monaco themed area. Surrounded by Mediterranean flair and a stylish backdrop, both immersed themselves in Monegasque life for a brief moment.

With songs like “Geiles Leben” and “Nie vergessen,” Glasperlenspiel is known throughout Germany and delights fans with richly resonant melodies. The friendship with Europa-Park goes back a long way. In 2014, to mark the opening of the attraction “ARTHUR – In the Kingdom of the Minimoys,” Carolin and Daniel wrote the song “Folge mir.” Anyone who comes into the Rock-Café still finds that connection: Visitors can admire the platinum record for the hit “Geiles Leben.” The musicians are currently on a live tour, presenting their biggest hits as well as songs from the new album “GPS 26.”

They told the Europa-Park podcast “Parkgeflüster” just how deep the bond really runs. Both are from Lake Constance. A summer visit to Rust was already a fixture for them as children. Carolin remembers the anticipation in the back seat when the first rides appeared in the distance. To this day, Daniel describes the feeling as childhood. “It always feels like coming home when we're at Europa-Park,” he said. His favorite attractions today are mainly the fast coasters — most of all “Silver Star” or “blue fire Megacoaster,” several times in a row.

The band's traces in the park reach back to the early years. Early in their time as a band, Glasperlenspiel left their handprints on the golden celebrity wall. On park visits today, Daniel shows them to his niece and nephew. At the ARTHUR opening in 2014, the two were not only the songwriters behind “Folge mir.” They stood on stage themselves. The song still plays in the attraction and, most recently, even in the shop. Carolin and Daniel also performed at the park together with Mark Forster. The platinum record in the Rock-Café is more than decoration for them. When “Geiles Leben” reached diamond status, they gifted Europa-Park an award.

On the music side, a new chapter is beginning. In October, the studio album “GPS 26” will be released — the first in eight years. It was created after a deliberate break and an inspiration trip to Seoul. Both are big K-pop fans. The album title came, quite unspectacularly, from a Dropbox folder in which 12 songs gradually landed. The advance singles “Self Love” and “LALISA” have already been released. Carolin calls “Self Love” her most emotional track on the record. For Daniel, “LALISA” originated during the stay in Seoul, almost on the plane. The two are already teasing new songs at festival appearances. For February and March 2027, they have announced their own, smaller club tour through Germany.

The podcast episode closed with the segment “Your Day in the Park.” Carolin and Daniel would most like to spend a workday behind the scenes as the mascot duo Ed and Edda. Daniel is interested in the technology and would like to do morning test runs as an operator sometime. Carolin would rather spend the day at a family ride to see the beaming children's faces. For Halloween, Daniel would most like to be one of the monsters himself. Both love Europa-Park in the spooky season, even if “Traumatica” visibly takes a toll on Carolin. Host Theresa Zippelt also revealed in the conversation that a cornfield will once again be part of the Halloween offering in 2026. A reunion is as good as certain.