Paul van Dyk Drops Highly Anticipated ‘This World Is Ours’ Album

Grammy-nominated, globally acclaimed electronic artist Paul van Dyk announces his upcoming album This World Is Ours, set for release April 11. This album reflects on the rise of Artificial Intelligence in an evolving world and explores the role humanity will have in its wake.

As the first of its kind from an industry leader, this work seamlessly blends technology with human creativity, creating a continuous thread that remains central to this innovative collection. ‘This World Is Ours’ marks the German pioneer’s first long form foray in five years and will position as his Eleventh LP to date.

The album reflects on humanity and society over the past few years, inviting listeners to explore the evolving definition and advancement of technology and how it will shape our future. The music, titles and lyrics on ‘This World Is Ours’ are informed by the current global state of a disrupted reality.

Paul van Dyk Comments : “In the beginning people often said electronic music didn’t have any emotion - ‘it's just music by machines’ was often the stance. I believe we all now know that is not true. What other misconceptions, I wonder, do we currently hold about technological advancements and their position in society?”

Elaborating on TWIO Highlights

“This isn’t an album about the dystopian, grave future prognoses” he further emphasises “It’s about where we are in 2025, the here and now. Currently “This World Is Ours” is a statement of fact. We might have inherited the world; though we certainly don’t always treat it as we should. However we’re on the 5-10 year cusp of creating something that’ll significantly disrupt everything as we know it. In respect to an entity that thinks, calculates, achieves a thousand times faster than we do, I feel there needs to be more thought about that … and we’re rapidly speeding towards the last station-stop to do so.”

Throughout the collection, Paul channels his own personal thoughts and intuitions about our future world. Sharing that “We don’t view technology in the same way that we view our fellow humans.” He continues “Most people on our planet see technology as something that provides a positive advancement, and thus far, we’ve controlled it, rather than vice versa.It is worth noting that when AI reaches self-awareness, at an Artificial General Intelligence or even Super-Intelligence level, that all will change and we will no longer be Earth’s undisputed apex inhabitant.”

For such a pinnacle and explorative album, Paul has accrued a team of collaborative minds, far beyond previous works. Working with names that include John 00 Fleming, FUENKA, Sue McLaren, The Yellowheads, Christian Schottstaedt, Reznor and many others. Through appropriately coded titles like ‘Take Me Away’, ‘Against The Algorithm’, ‘Let Go And Listen’, ‘Back 2 The FVTR’, ‘Gatekeeper’ and, naturally, its title track ‘This World Is Ours’. The first track ‘Two Rivers’ itself is defined by the twin elements which consistently fuel Paul’s music: human emotions infused with electronic ones, further supporting the Album’s overarching theme.

Expanding further upon one of the album’s standout singles, Paul shares with a deep integrity on the appropriately named ‘Against the Algorithm’, commenting “Love it or hate it, through our experiences with social media, we’ve visibly seen through a portal of the potential technological pitfalls. We are already being socially disrupted to the point that it’s affecting mankind’s immediate behaviour. To no small degree, algorithms are already actively programming us. This, I believe, should be something of a cautionary tale for what’s to come, and was at the forefront of our minds when John (00 Fleming) and myself were producing the song.”

Delving deeper into the album's formative tracks, "The Poem," which was part of the Seven Seas single release, offers an early glimpse into the presiding theme of the full album. It serves as a poignant, minute-long swan song that reflects on our current position in modern life. Delivered with unwavering conviction, this marks both Paul’s first and final foray into music-making through AI. By using specific prompts to instruct the AI to “write a beautiful poem about seafaring, the elements of nature, and the sea, all presented with a strong, positive outlook” Paul crafted a unique single that resonates with audiences today. Reflecting on the experience, Paul openly shares, “It’s not a counterpoint to my beliefs, but an experiment… My due diligence, if you like. Those were its only hints, and the creative, emotionally human level with which it responded, to me, was indistinguishable from the real thing.”

In parallel to the forthcoming body of work and promotion of the album, the most important question raised throughout this experience is the role of humanity in times to come. Discussing the past, present and future, Paul distinctly comments “Early humankind had the fight of their lives to establish their place in the earth’s hierarchy. Historically, Mandela, George Washington, and countless others all relinquished their immediate power for a higher purpose. Therefore the title of this album ‘This World Is Ours’ is both fitting and relevant to the present day!” Sharing a final note, Paul interjects with a touch of humour “I’d really love to not have to call my next one… ‘Why Did We Just Give It Away?’”

A pivotal release indeed for the heralded creative talent, ‘This World Is Ours’ is set for full official release on 11th April 2025 on all major platforms.

Paul van Dyk - This World Is Ours

Released 11th April, 2025

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